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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Photographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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(716)  873-4503 


/ 


1 


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18X 

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illustrent  la  m^thode. 


1 

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e 

A  hand  wao  seen  to  wave  in  answer  to 
Harry's  cheer.    Page  47. 


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;\ 


I 


THE  LOG  HOUSE; 


OB 


ADVENTURES   IN   CANADA 


By  W.  H.  G.  Kingston. 


Boston: 
Published  by  ^.  jlothrop  &  Co. 

drover,  J7.  H,:  G.  T.  (Day  &  Co. 


I 


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THE   LOG   HOUSE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

<9M.T  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when  Mr. 
Philip  Ash  ton  walked  up  to  the  door  of 
his  residence  in  Portman  Square.  His 
hand  touched  the  knocker  irresolutely. 
"  It  must  be  done,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  May 
strength  be  given  to  all  of  them  to  bear  the 
blow ! "  His  hand  shook  as  he  rapped.  The 
hall  door  flew  open,  a  servant  in  handsome  livery 
stood  ready  to  take  his  hat  and  gloves.  As  he 
entered  the  drawing-room  his  wife  and  daughters 
rose  to  welcome  him,  with  affection   beaming  in 

(8) 


The  Log  House, 


their  eyes,  as  did  his  three  sons,  who  had  just 
arrived  at  home  from  different  directions.  '*  Dear 
papa,  you  are  not  well,"  exclaimed  Sopliy,  his 
eldest  daughter,  leading  liim  to  a  seat.  "Pliilip, 
what  is  the  matter  ?  "  asked  his  wife,  leaning 
over  him.  —  "  Sit  down,  dears,  and  I  will  tell 
3^ou,"  he  answered,  pressing  her  hand.  ''  A 
severe  trial  has  come  upon  us,  but  —  "  *  *  ♦  ♦ 
*'  Dear  Leonard,  nothing  lias  happened  to  him,  I 
pray  ?  '*  gasped  out  Mrs.  Ashton.  Leonard  was 
a  sailor  son,  the  only  one  now  absent.  —  "  Thank 
Heaven  he  is  well ;  I  had  a  letter  from  him  only 
to-day,"  answered  Mr.  Ashton.  "Many  mercies 
are  granted  us,  and  I  trust,  therefore,  that  you 
will  all  submit  to  be  deprived,  without  murmur- 
ing, of  the  wealth  we  hitherto  have  thought  our 
own.  Dear  ones,  the  law-suit  has  been  decided 
against  us ! " 

The  young  Ashtons  were  silent  for  some  min- 
utes, but  presently  recovered  themselves.  "  We 
can  all  work,"  exclaimed  the  three  sons,  in  a 
breath.     '*  Our   happiness  does   not  consist    in 


# 


Or,  Adventures  in  Cauuiht. 


this,'*  said  Sophy,  glancing  round  the  room. 
**  We  will  make  the  sinaUcst  cottage  conirortalde 
for  vou,  maninia."  "  I  am  sure  we  can,  and  do 
all  the  work  ourselves,"  cried  Fanny,  her  next 
Bister.  "  I  can  make  a  pu(hling,  and  churn,  ai:  I 
could  soon  learn  how  to  milk  a  cow,"  said  Agnes, 
tlie  third  dau^jhter,  lauffhin'^.  **  I  have  alwavs 
wished  to  live  in  a  cottage  in  the  country." 
"  I've  arranged  it,"  said  Fanny.  ^^  Agnes  shad 
be  cook,  I  will  be  waiting-maid,  Sophy  house- 
keeper, Philip  bailiff,  Harry  gardener,  and 
Charley  —  oh,  let  me  consider  —  general  I'aiin- 
servant :  won't  that  be  excellent  ?  '* 

*'  But  you  place  your  mother  and  me  on  tho 
shelf,"  said  Mr.  Ashton,  his  spirits  reviving  from 
seeing  the  way  in  which  his  children  bore  tlie 
announcement  he  had  so  dreaded  making. 
"  What  are  we  to  do  ?  "  —  "  Oh,  papa,  of  course 
you  and  mamma  are  to  do  nothing.  We  are  all 
to  work  for  you,"  exclaimed  Harry,  a  fire  youth 
of  fourteen,  who  looked  as  if  there  was  indeed 
work    in    him.      "  Of    course,"     added     Char- 


6  The  Log  Home; 

ley.  •*  How  we  ought  to  thank  yon,  papa,  for 
luiving  ns  taught  carpentering,  and  that  wo  all 
liave  such  a  fancy  for  gardening.  John  says,  too, 
tliat  I  know  ahiiost  as  much  ahout  pigs  and  cowd 
und  sheep  as  he  does  ;  and  as  for  Phil,  he  knowa 
more  about  everything  than  all  of  us  put  to- 
gether." 

Philip  —  Mr.  Ashton's  eldest  son  —  had  not 
spoken  after  lie  had  first  expressed  his  feelinga 
with  his  brothers.  His  thoughts  were  elsewhere. 
A  bright  airy  castle  he  had  lately  raised,  had  just 
been  hurled  rudely  to  the  ground,  and  he  was 
Btunned  by  the  crash. 

Mr.  Ashton  retired  to  rest  that  night  with  a 
mind  greatly  relieved.  He  had  not  doubted  the 
affection  of  his  children,  and  he  was  assured  that 
it  would  enable  them  to  bear  their  reverse  of 
fortune  with  cheerfulness.  When  he  rose  in  the 
morning  he  prayed  earnestly  for  strength  to  go 
through  the  work  required  of  him,  and  that  is 
never  denied  to  those  who  seek  it  from  Him  who 
can  alcne  afford  it.     In  all  the  work  he  received 


'■*» 


Ory  Adventitres  in  Canada. 


al)lo  nssistance  from  his  son.  Philip  had  n(»t  left 
a  single;  (U'l)t  unjuiid  at  the  University,  by  whieh, 
under  his  altered  circumstances,  he  miglit  over 
afterwards  have  been  liampered.  Mr.  Ashton 
having  never  allowed  household  bills  to  run  on, 
was  coinparatively  free  from  debt. 

All  his  affairs  arranged,  he  found  himself  with 
an  income — arising  from  a  settlement  on  his 
wife — of  two  hundred  pounds  a  year,  and  about 
fifteen  hundred  pounds  in  ready  money.  Once 
more  his  family  being  assembled,  he  pointed  out 
to  them  that  though  their  plans  were  very  good, 
if  they  wei  e  to  remain  a  united  family  they  must 
look  to  the  future,  and  seek  in  another  country 
the  opportunity  of  developing  their  energies. 
"  What  do  you  think  of  Canada  ?  "  he  asked.  — 
*'  a  capital  country  1 "  cried  Charley,  who,  as  the 
youngest,  spoke  first.  "  I  know  all  about  the 
sleighing,  and  the  skating,  and  the  ice-boats,  and 
the  coasting  down  snow-hills,  and  the  shooting 
huge  deer,  and  the  snow-shoeing,  and  the  sailing 
on  the  lakes,  and  the  fishing,  and  the  sporting  of 
all  sorts, —  nut  a  country  like  it,  I  should  say." 


^M 


\ 


IM 


i    ! 


8  The  Leg  House; 

"  It's  a  country  for  hard  work,  I  know,"  said 
Harry.  "  Nothing  I  should  fancy  so  much  aa 
cutting  down  trees,  building  log  huts,  fencing  in 
fields,  and  ploughing  and  reaping.  Ever  since  I 
read  '  Laurie  Todd  '  I  have  wished  to  go  there.'* 
Philip  and  his  sisters  expressed  themselves 
equally  ready  to  emigrate. 

No  time  was  lost  in  making  the  necessary 
preparations,  after  it  was  resolved  that  they 
should  go  to  Canada.  It  was  highly  gratifying 
to  them  to  find  that  several  of  their  servants 
wished  to  accompany  them.  Two  only,  however, 
could  be  taken.  Of  these  Mrs.  Summers  had 
been  the  nurse  of  all  the  younger  children,  and 
had  lately  acted  as  housekeeper.  **It  would 
break  my  heart,  marm,  if  you  were  to  go  out  to 
a  strange  country,  and  I,  who  am  still  strong  and 
hearty,  not  to  be  with  you  to  help  you  in  all  your 
troubles,"  she  said,  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  to 
Mrs.  Ashton.  "  Though  you  take  them  like  an 
angel,  marm,  they  are  troubles."  The  other, 
Peter  Puckle  by  name,  had  been  first  stable-boy, 


m 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


9 


»» 


then  pn,;^e,  and  lately  footman.  He  engaged 
Harry  to  plead  his  cause.  "  The  wa^es  and  the 
passage-mone}^  shan't  stand  in  the  way,  Master 
Harry,"  he  urged.  **  I  have  not  been  in  the 
family  all  these  years  without  laying  by  some- 
thing, and  it's  the  honor  of  serving  your  good 
father  still  is  all  I  want." 

The  surface  of  the  broad  Atlantic  was  scarcely 
ruffled  by  a  breeze  as  the  steamer  with  the  Ashton 
family  on  board  rushed  across  it.  "  Well,  Sophy, 
I  declare  it  is  worth  being  ruined  for  the  sake  of 
the  fun  we  have  on  board,"  exclaimed  Charley, 
to  his  eldest  sister,  who  was  sitting  reading  on 
deck,  at  a  short  distance  from  the  rest  of  the 
party.  A  gentleman  standing  by  heard  the  re- 
mark, and  tinding  Charley  by  himself  directly 
afterwards,  he  observed,  smiling,  "  Why,  my 
young  friend,  you  do  not  look  as  if  you  were 
ruined.  I  have  never  met  a  happier  family  than 
yours  appears  to  be.  What  did  you  mean  by 
saying  that  ?  "  — *'  Well,  I  do  not  think  that  we 
are  ruined  really,  sir,"   said   Charley,   artlessly ; 


ii 


10 


The  Log  House; 


•*  still,  my  papa  had  many  thousand  pounds  a 
yp'i.r  till  lately,  and  we  lived  in  a  large  house  in 
London,  and  had  another  in  the  country,  and 
Philip  was  at  Oxford  and  Harry  at  Eton,  and  I 
was  going  there  ;  and  now  we  are  to  live  in  a  log 
hut  in  the  backwoods  in  Canada,  and  that  makes 
us  all  so  jolly,  because  it  will  be  such  capital  fun. 
Don't  you  think  so  ?  " 

**  I  have  had  some  experience  of  life  in  the 
backwoods,"  answered  the  gentleman.  "  It 
has  its  advantages  and  its  disadvantages,  though 
I  have  little  doubt  but  that  you  will  find  it 
pleasant."  "  What,  do  you  live  in  Canada,  sir  ?  " 
asked  Charley. —  "  Yes  ;  I  have  lived  there  all 
my  life,"  said  the  stranger.  "But,  my  young 
friend,  you  say  that  you  are  ruined,  and  yet  I 
see  you  have  servants  attending  on  you  :  how  is 
that  ?  "  —  '*  Why,  they  insisted  on  coming,  and 
would     not     leave     us,'*     answered      Charley. 

"  Would  more  have  accompanied  you  ? " 
enquired  the  stranger.  *'  I  am  afraid,  though, 
that  my  questions  may  appear  impertinent."  — < 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


n 


**  If  pnpa  would  have  let  them,"  said  Charley. 

»*  That  fact  speaks  volumes  in  favor  both  of 
master  and  servants,"  said  the  stranger  to  him- 
self. 

From  that  day  Charley  looked  upon  the 
stranger  as  an  especial  friend,  though  he  could 
learn  little  more  about  him  than  that  his  name 
was  Norman.  At  length  the  St.  Lawrence  was 
reached,  and  the  Ashton  family  landed  safely  at 
Quebec,  the  chief  port  of  the  superb  province 
which  the  gallantry  of  Wolfe  won  for  England, 
and  which,  mainly  by  the  perseverance  and 
energy  of  Anglo-Saxon  inhabitants,  has  become 
one  of  the  brightest  jewels  in  tho  British  crown. 


Ill 


lii 


■ 


€^J 


CHAPTER  II. 


»E  have   gained  the  day,   Mrs.  Ashtonr 

W    7^  '^^«  ^-'-d  the  day,   girf.,  ;  ..  ,, 
^Ul<^     claim «rJ    T\/r>.     *    ,  .  ^'*- 


^t?^      ,  .  -      -~  -.«   uaj,   girls  :  "  ex- 

this    wnexDeptP,!  ""^^es  Ash  ton  at 

"uexpected    aisnouncement      P 

best  known  to  himself  Mr   rT  ,  '''*'°"^ 

infonned  his  wife  ad  ,      .  '"  '''  "°' 

wite  and  daughtew  of  the  law  „„v 

go.ng  on  between  himself  and  his  Jr  ' 

PW'ip    Ashton.     ..  Guess    th  ""'  """ 

u^uess    the    aniounf  r  "    i. 

exclaimed.     That  was  imnn    •. ,  ^* 

(12,  ""possible.     "What  do 


f 


'4 


0?%  Adventures  in  Canada, 


13 


you  think  of  six  thousand  a  year  ?  Every  sliill- 
in'^'  of  it,  and  under  my  management  it  will 
become  ten  thousand  ;  aye,  and  more  than  that, 
probably."  It  was  some  time  before  the  Ash  tons 
could  realize  the  fact  of  this  good  fortune,  as 
tliey  called  it  ;  but  as  they  realized  it  their  ideas 
expanded,  their  aspirations  increased.  Their 
eldest  son,  John,  lately  articled  to  an  attorney, 
must  be  entered  at  Oxford  ;  the  second,  appren- 
ticed to  a  draper,  was  sent  off  to  Germany  to 
grow  whiskers  and  a  moustache,  lest  any  of  the 
country  gentry  should  recognize  him  as  having 
measured  out  ribbons  for  them  from  behind  the 
counter ;  while  the  youngest  was  taken  from 
the  Grammar  School  and  sent  off,  much  against 
his  will,  to  form  aristocratic  acquaintances  at 
Eton.  The  great  ambition  of  the  Miss  Ashtons 
was  to  shine  in  London  society.  Their  father 
boasted  that  money  could  do  everything.  It 
enabled  him  to  obtain  a  handsome  house, 
equipage,  and  establishment,  and  then  to  com- 
mence their   career  in  *  the    world  of    fashion. 


14 


'■f  t 


'i 


^he  Log  House; 


There  were  three  Miss  A«hto„,.     The  two  eM est 
were  considered  beinh'^o     *u 

had   been  absent  0?  '""=""'•  ''"'•^• 

n  absent  on  a  visit,  and  did  not  retmn 

home  till  her  father  was  on  th.      ■ 

off  for  London.  '  ^""*  "'  ^«"'"S 

W^on  the  even.,  of  her  arrival.     Mr.A..,to„ 
Jcd  the    way   ««   bis   office   at  fi      i     , 

what    T   „  .  'eiiained  from  writing 

,    "'   I  now    wish    to  tell   you"  she    I 

gentleman   of  o'ur   name       .      .  ™"-"''   ^ 

there   with  '        "   ^^^^"''^^  ^  he 

®   with  some   members  of  hi,  f     ; 

-*-1uoed  to  me.     Mrs    L,  "^^   "" 

Pleased  with  him -w!  aw  Irr^"""^"^ 
«f  1       ,,  ^^  ^^^  frequently  -^ ha 

;  ^ir"^ ■" "■- -■' '-'". ..'. .M 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


15 


^"0  eldest 
ii  Mary, 
t  return 


settiijnj 


u"  said 
Ash  toil 
of  the 
Mai^, 
ther,  I 
}  been 


^ntinor 

o 


iegan. 
3(]di  d 
hile  I 

?h,  a 
:o  be 
was 
nuch 
-he 
that 


•*  What  is  his  name  ?  **  asked  Mr.  Ashton, 
sharply.  **  Philip  Ashton ;  — he  is  most  worthy 
—  most  excellent,"  answered  Mary,  trembling  at 

her  father's  tone.     "  He  is  all 1 "     "  He  is  a 

beggar !  "  exclaimed   Mr.   Ashton,   vehemently. 

*'  You  will  have  nothing  more  to  say  to  him  ; 
you  understand  me  clearly  ;  it  is  not  a  matter  I 
wish  to  discuss."  Rising  from  his  seat  he  led  the 
way  out  of  the  room. 

Two  days  afterwards  Mary  received  a  letter 
from  Philip  Ashton,  freeing  her  from  her  en- 
gagement to  him  in  consequence  of  their  altered 
circumstances,  but  couched  in  terms  which  more 
than  ever  convinced  her  that  he  was  worthy  of 
her  best  affections.  The  family  arrived  in  Lon- 
don, and  by  dint  of  perseverance,  managed  to 
engage  in  a  whirl  of  dissipation,  which  they 
called  pleasure.  Mary's  cheeks  grew  paler  than 
they  were  wont.  Her  sisters  said  that  it  was 
the  effect  of  the  London  season.  John,  voting 
Oxford  a  bore,  came  to  London,  and  without 
much    difficulty,    obtained    the   character  of  a 


tt 


It 


1, 


16 


The  Log  House, 


fashionable  young  man  about  town.  It  mif^lit 
have  been  doubted  whether  Mr.  Ash  ton  himself 
derived  full  advantage  from  his  large  income. 
Few  of  his  guests  knew  him  by  sight,  and  he 
had  often  to  steal  off  to  bed  fatigued  with  his 
labors  as  director  of  numerous  promising  specu- 
lations in  which  he  had  engaged  to  increase  his 
fortune.  Altogether  the  Ashton  family  were 
very  busily  employed.  Some  might  say  that 
they  were  like  those  who  '*  sow  the  wind  to  reap 
the  whirlwind."  We  gladly  quit  them  to  follow 
the  fortunes  of  their  emigrant  cousins. 


It   mi(T]it 
n  himself 
■   incorno. 
t,  and  he 
with  his 
ig  specu- 
rease  his 
ilj   were 
5ay   that 
to  reap 
o  follow 


CHAPTER  III. 

AN  AD  A  is  now  traversed  from  one  end 
to  the  other  by  railways,  with  numerous 
ramifications  to  the  north  and  south, 
while  steam-vessels  run  not  only  on  its 
main  artery  —  the  St.  Lawrence  —  and  the  great 
chain  of  lakes,  but  also  on  numerous  other  rivers 
and  lakes  in  every  direction  on  the  lines  of  the 
highway  to  any  inhabited  district.  Notwith- 
standing this,  the  romance  of  travelling  through 
Canada  is  not  altogether  done  away  with.  Al- 
though several  of  the  chief  cities  contain  very 
large  populations,  Montreal  having  one  hundred 
thousand  inhabitants,  and  Quebec  and  Toronto 
S  (17) 


"*^m\ 


^  ; 


i   i 


18 


The  Log  House; 


not  many  thousand  less,  and  possessing  likewise 
all  the  advantages  required  by  civilized  comnm- 
nities,  yet  a  very  few  miles  away  from  them  tho 
stranger  may  find  himself  in  some  wild  district 
where  he  might  suppose  tliat  the  foot  of  man 
had  never  trod.  In  the  summer,  steamers  on 
water  compote  with  locomotives  on  land  in  con- 
veying passengers ;  and  when  time  is  not  of  cen- 
Bcquence,  the  route  by  water  is  generally 
preferred. 

A  few  days  only  were  spent  at  Quebec  by  tho 
Ashtons  after  their  arrival,  before  they  embarked 
on  board  one  of  those  wonderful  constructions, 
an  American  steamboat,  to  proceed  up  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  Montreal.  The  entrance  was  in  the 
^ide  of  the  vessel,  and  on  the  main  deck,  which 
appeared  lumbered  up  from  one  end  to  the  other 
with  casks,  chests,  and  packages,  a  flight  of 
steps  led  to  an  upper  deck,  which  had  the  appear- 
ance of  a  long  gallery,  fitted  up  as  a  drawing- 
room,  with  sofas,  easy-chairs,  and  every  luxury. 
The  glazed  roof  was  supported  by  pillars,  but  no 


Otj  Adventures  in  Cunadu. 


19 


^  likewise 
d  comniii- 
tlicm  tho 
Id  district 
•t  of  limn 
amers  on 
id  in  con- 
ot  of  con- 
general  ly 

ec  by  tho 

embarked 

ructions, 


)  the  St. 

"^1 

\  ''-'A', 

vas  in  the 

■  ■->''' 

k,  which 

;he  other 

flight  of 

> 

e  appear- 

clrawing- 

Sv^ 

'  luxury. 

i 

s,  but  no 

■'1?^ 

'M 

access  could  be  discovered  to  any  spot  where 
helmsman,  captain,  or  crew  might  be  posted. 
Harry,  after  many  enquiries,  found  that  tho 
wheel  was  on  a  platform  on  the  roof  forward, 
where  the  captain  and  pilot  stood.  lie  pro- 
nounced the  vessel  to  be  constructed  on  two 
huge  arches,  having  a  vast  Thames  wherry  below, 
with  a  superstructure  of  picture  galleries  on  a 
wide  platform  extending  far  over  her  gunwale  on 
either  side. 

Montreal,  the  head  of  the  ocean  navigation, 
was  reached  ;  and  then  by  a  series  of  magnifi- 
cent canals  the  rapids  of  the  St.  Lawrence  were 
avoided ;  the  lake  of  the  Thousand  Isles,  with 
their  rocky  bases  and  tree-covered  summits,  was 
passed,  as  were  several  larger  and  thriving  towns, 
and  Lake  Ontario  was  entered. 

At  Kingston  they  embarked  on  board  another 
steamer,  which  was  far  more  like  an  ordinary 
vessel  than  the  one  they  had  just  quitted.  Who 
should  come  on  board,  just  before  she  left  tho 
wharf,   but   Mr.   Norman.     A   few  hours  after- 


M 


so 


The  Lo(j  House; 


Wttids,  when  Harry  and  Charley  came  on  deck, 
they  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise  as  they 
looked  around.  "What,  is  this  called  a  lake, 
Mr.  Norman  ?  Why,  where  is  the  land  ?  '* 
♦*  Out  of  sight,*'  answered  their  friend,  laugiiing. 
**  North,  south,  east,  west  of  us.  It  is  rather 
hazy  to  the  north,  or  you  would  see  the  pine- 
fringed  shore.  We  shall  soon  again  see  it, 
as  we  have  to  touch  at  several   towns  on   our 


way 


»» 


Several  large  vessels  were  met  under  all  sail, 
with  numerous  crews,  steering  for  the  St.  Law- 
rence. "Where  can  they  be  going  to?'*  said 
Harry.  "  To  Liverpool,  perhaps,  or  to  some 
other  English  port,  laden  with  wheat  from  the 
Western  States,"  answered  Mr.  Norman.  "  Ves- 
sels have  sailed  all  the  way  from  Lake  Superior 
to  England." 

They  saw,  however,  more  things  to  jvonder  at 
that  can  well  be  recounted.  Not  the  least,  in 
the  eyes  of  the  boys,  was  the  fine  city  of  Toronto, 
with  its  numerous   public   buildings.     "  Why    I 


'»^> 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


21 


on  deck, 

I  as  tlioy 

i  a  lalvo, 

land  ?  " 

augliing. 

IS   rather 

he  2)ine- 

see   it, 

on   our 

all  sail, 
t.  Law- 
?'*  said 
o  some 
om  the 
"  Ves- 
uperior 

nder  at 
ast,  in 
oronto, 
Vhy    I 


thought  wo  were  about  to  enter  the  backwoods 
by  the  time  we  got  thus  far  west,  and  here  wq 
an-  ill  the  middle  of  as  civilized  a  city  as  any  we 
have  seen,"  exehiimed  Harry,  on  their  return 
from  an  excursion  through  Toronto.  **  VVe  have 
many  other  fine  towns  still  further  west,"  said 
Mr.  Norman,  who  had  stayed  at  the  same  hotel. 
*'  If  we  go  into  the  States  we  shall  find,  several 
hundred  miles  off,  Chicago,  which  has  sprung 
up  as  if  by  the  wand  of  the  enchanter.  The  se- 
cret of  this  rapid  increase  is  its  peculiar  position 
at  the  head  of  a  great  navigable  lake,  with  a 
background  unrivalled  in  its  corn  producing 
powers.  In  the  course  of  years  we  may  hope  to 
see  cities,  towns,  and  villages,  rising  at  intervals 
on  British  territory,  directly  across  our  vast  con- 
tinent, united  to  those  which  have  already  ap- 
peared in  British  Columbia." 

Mr.  Ashton  having  made  all  the  enquiries  in  his 
power  as  to  eligible  localities,  set  off  with  Philip 
to  select  a  spot  for  the  future  abode  of  the  fam- 
ily.   He  was  advised  to  rent  a  partially  cleared 


\ 


nr 


1     '■ 


\ 


22 


The  Log  House; 


farm,  but  his  sons  especially  entreated  that  li6 
would  purchase  a  tract  of  wild  ground,  that  tiny 
might  have  the  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  with 
their  own  hands  they  were  bringing  their  own 
property  from  a  state  of  nature  into  one  of  culti- 
vation. He  yielded  to  their  wishes,  though, 
perhaps,  the  plan  he  was  advised  to  adopt  would 
have  more  rapidly  afforded  them  a  return  for 
their  outlay,  and  some  of  the  luxuries  of  civili- 
zation. Mr.  Norman  casually  enquired  the  di- 
rection in  which  they  proposed  prosecuting  their 
search,  and  on  hearing  that  it  was  to  the  north, 
he  remarked  that  he  might  possibly  meet  them. 

We  need  scarcely  say  that  the»  Ashton  family 
employed  their  time  profitably  in  seeing  all  that 
there  was  to  be  seen  in  Toronto,  and  that  they 
made  excursions  to  Hamilton,  and  to  several 
other  towns  accessible  by  railway.  Mr.  Ashton 
lost  no  time  in  searching  for  the  desired  locality, 
and  he  and  Philip  soon  came  to  the  conclusion 
that  it  was  not  a  thing  to  be  done  in  a  hurry. 
Fortunately  Mr.  Norman  did   meet   them,   and 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


23 


that  he 
that  tlicy 
liat  with 
leir  own 

of  cult i- 

though, 
)t  would 
turn  for 
f  civili- 
the  di- 
ng their 

north, 

them. 

family 
ill  that 
tt    they 
several 
Ashton 
)cality, 
elusion 
hurry. 
1)   and 


with  his  assistance  they  at  last  found  a  spot  to 
suit  them.  *'  The  next  thing  you  will  have  to 
do  is  to  get  fixed^^'  he  said,  laughing.  "  You  will 
soon  find  out  the  meaning  of  that  term,  I  guess. 


'»» 


CHAPTER  IV. 

OWARDS  the  close  of  a  bright  summer 
day,  several  wheeled  vehicles  were  pro- 
gressing slowly  along  a  broad  but  rough- 
ish  road  cut  through  the  forest  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  peninsula  of  Upper  Canada. 
In  colonial  phrase,  they  were  all  wagons  ;  but 
some  carried  luggage  only,  and  one  of  them  hu- 
man beings,  with  a  small  amount  of  personalities, 
in  the  shape  of  carpet  bags  and  hat  boxes  be- 
tween their  feet.  This  vehicle  was  a  long,  shal- 
low box,  or  it  might  be  called  a  tray  on  wheels, 
with  four  sei'ts  across,  each  calculated  to  hold 
three  persons,  and  with  a  box  for  the  driver. 
The  baggage-wagons  were  of  the  same  build, 
without  the  seats,  and  were   heavily  laden   with 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


25 


^. 


summer 
ere  pro- 
'■  rough- 
in   the 

is;  but 
:ii  hu- 
ahties, 
3s  be- 
,  shal- 
heels, 
hold 

3uild, 
with 


chests,  casks,  bales,  and  bedding,  wiih  otlior 
household  furniture.  They  must  have  been 
stronger  than  they  looked,  to  withstand  the  vio- 
lent bumpings  and  jerks  they  received  as  they 
progressed  along  the  chief  highway  as  yet 
opened  up  in  that  part  of  the  country. 

The  nature  of  the  road  varied  very  much,  ac- 
cordinor  to  the  character  of  the  land  over  which 
it  passed  ;  now  it  was  of  corduroy — that  is  to 
say  of  trees  laid  across  it,  the  interstices  filled  up 
with  clay  or  sand.  In  a  few  places  in  the  neigh- 
borhood  of  saw-mills,  planks  had  been  placed 
diagonally  across  the  road,  secured  to  sleepers 
beneath,  and  over  these  bits  the  horses  dragged 
the  vehicles  at  a  speed  which  made  the  travel- 
lers wish  that  the  whole  road  was  formed  in  the 
same  manner.  This  they  found  was  called  a 
plank  road.  How  the  machines  could  hold  to- 
gether, or  the  limbs  of  the  occupants  escape  dis- 
location, seemed  surprising  as  they  surged  over 
the  first  mentioned  style  of  road.  Now  and  then 
the  foundation  of  the  road  was  of  rock  ;  and  this, 


'  i 


I 


i 


26 


The  Log  House  ; 


though  even  rougher,  caused  no  fear  of  its  letting 
the  carriages  sink  through.  Here  and  there 
gravel  appeared  and  allowed  of  firm  footing;  but 
the  worst  parts  of  all  were  those  iindelightful 
spots  called  cedar  swamps,  across  which  neither 
plank  nor  corduroy  had  been  thrown,  and  which 
caused  the  travellers  to  doubt  considerably 
whether  they  and  their  vehicles  would  get 
across  or  shik  beneath  the  treacherous  surface. 
In  such  cases,  however,  all  hands  uniting  with 
ropes  and  poles,  the  wagons  were  dragged  across. 
No  one  could  complain  that  the  road  did 
not  go  direct  for  its  object :  on  it  went,  up  and 
down  hill,  and  across  bog  and  stream,  with 
the  same  vanishing  point  between  the  dark 
tall,  thick -growing  trees  ever  ahead.  Most 
people  would  have  become  very  weary  of  what 
they  had  gone  through  and  of  the  prospect 
before  them,  but  the  travellers  now  proceeding 
along  the  road  were  the  Ashton  family ;  and 
Mr.  Norman  had  prepared  them  fully  for  what 
they  were  to  expect,  besides  which  they  were 


i 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


27 


8  letting 

d   there 

ng;  but 
flight  i'ul 

neither 
I  which 
derably 
lid   get 
urface. 
:   with 
across. 
d    did 
ip  and 
with 

dark 

Most 

what 
spect 
jdinsr 

and 
^vhat 
svere 


always  inclined  to  make  light  of  difficulties  of 
every  sort  and  kind. 

Their  last  day's  journey  was  drawinj]^  to  a 
close.  As  they  mounted  to  the  top  of  a  ridge 
of  hills  over  which  the  road  led,  in  the  distance 
was  seen  the  blue  surface  of  Lake  Huron, 
"while  below  them  appeared,  surrounded  by 
trees,  a  small  piece  of  water,  unnoted  on  most 
maps,  though  covering  an  area  as  large  as  all 
the  Cumberland  Lakes  put  together.  In  the 
smaller  lake  were  several  wooded  islands,  and 
there  were  promontories,  and  bays,  and  inlets, 
with  hills  of  some  height  near  it,  adding  to 
its  picturesque  beauty.  A  wood-crowned  height 
separated  the  smaller  from  the  larger  expanse 
of  water,  except  in  one  place,  where  a  river  or 
an  inlet  it  might  be  called,  formed  a  junction, 
which  settles  on  the  shores  of  the  former  would 
not  fail  to  prize. 

"  There  is  our  future  home,"  said  Mr.  Ashton, 
pointing  to  the  side  of  the  small  lake  nearest 
Lake  Huron.     "  Philip  and  Peter,  with  the  two 


28 


The  Log  House; 


men  Mr.  Norman  sent  up,  will,  I  kope,  have 
miide  some  progress  by  this  time,  and  have  ^ot 
a  roof  ready  under  which  you  may  creep.  We 
shall  soon  be  at  the  village,  and  from  thence  wo 
must  cross  the  lake  in  a  boat,  as  the  road  round 
is  impassable,  or  rather  there  is  no  road  at  all." 

Harry,  who  had  a  small  telescope  slung  at  his 
back,  said  that  he  could  make  out  a  wide  clear- 
ing and  a  shanty  in  the  middle  of  it.  His 
parents  hoped  that  he  was  correct,  though  his 
younger  sisters  and  brother  dechared  that  they 
should  be  delighted  to  camp  out  in  the  bash  for 
the  remainder  of  the  summer.  It  was  growing 
dusk  as  the  travellers  entered  the  village,  which 
consisted  of  a  store,  three  or  four  log  huts,  and 
half  a  dozen  shanties  or  sheds,  some  the  abode 
of  man,  and  some  of  beast,  and  some  shared  by 
both.  The  store  being  covered  in  with  planks, 
and  having  three  stories,  was  the  building  of 
by  far  the  greatest  pretensions.  One  of  the 
Bhanties  was  the  future  hotel  of  the  place,  at 
present,  however,   affording   accommodation   to 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


29 


pe,  hare 
have  g^ot 
'p.     We 
'lice   we 
I  round 
t  all." 
■  at  his 
e  clear- 

t.   His 

igh  his 
it  they 
sh  for 
ovvinir 
which 
•5,  and 
ibode 
3d  by 
anks, 
^^  of 
the 
S  at 
1   to 


neither  man  nor  beast.  The  landlord  stood  at 
the  door  with  his  arms  akimbo,  and  the  air  of  a 
man  perfectly  satisfied  with  himself  and  his 
belongini^s,  as  he  watched  the  approach  of  the 
wagons.  He  was  active  enough  when  they 
stopped  before  his  abode,  hoping  that  some  of 
the  party  would  become  his  customers. 

**  Well,  strangers,  you  look  spry  after  your 
journey.  Glad  to  see  you.  We'll  become  good 
neighbors,  I  guess,'*  was  his  familiar  but  not 
surly  salutation.  Mr.  Ashton  took  it  in  good 
part.  "  Thank  you,  my  friend,  we  have  come 
along  very  well,"  he  answered.  "  Can  you  tell 
me,  have  my  son  and  his  servant  been  here 
lately  ?  " 

"  Your  two  young  men  were  up  here  not  ten 
minutes  ago.  They've  gone  back  to  the  boat, 
I  guess.     K  you  shout  they'll  hear  you.'* 

*'  Philip  a-hoy  I  '*  shouted  Harry  and  Charle}'', 
their  shrill  voices  sounding  clearly  through  the 
dark  pine  forest  which  shut  in  the  settlement  on 
either  side,  and  sweeping  over  the  calm  waters  of 
the  lake. 


IrtlllHIMIi 


il 


»►    , 


li 


so 


The  Log  House; 


tt 


Ay,  ay  ;  all  right!  "  was  the  chooiful  repl\% 
and  Philip,  accompanied  by  Peter,  came  rushing 
up  in  time  to  help  his  mother  and  sisters  to  un- 
pack from  their  somewhat  uncomfortable  convey- 
ance. '*  It  does  not  do  to  be  idle  out  here,  and 
so,  having  our  fishing  gear,  we  were  employing 
ourselves  while  waiting  your  arrival  in  catching 
some  fish  for  your  supper,"  he  said,  as  he  helped 
his  mother  to  the  ground.  "  Mr.  Job  Judson 
here  did  not  quite  approve  of  our  proceeding, 
as  he  would  rather  we  had  spent  the  time  in  his 
bar;  however,  I  have  brought  him  up  some  of 
the  proceeds  of  our  sport  to  propitiate  him,  for 
he  is  an  obliging,  good-natured  fellow,  at  bottom. 
I  wish  him  a  better  calling." 

After  all  the  family  had  alighted,  and  their 
affectionate  greetings  were  over,  Philip  exhibited 
the  fine  white  fish  he  had  brought  for  Mr.  Jud- 
son, weighing  some  four  or  five  pounds.  "  Wo 
have  half-a-dozon  similar  fish  for  our  family  sup- 
per, so  we  shall  not  starve,"  he  said,  with  a  tone 
of  satisfaction.     "  We  have  not  broached  a  cask 


Or^  Adventured  in  Canada, 


81 


il  rep!\% 

I  to  un- 
convey- 
le,  Hiid 
ploying 

afchiriir 
helped 
Judson 
eeding, 
in  liis 
)me  of 
ni,  for 
)ttom. 

their 
ibited 
Jud- 
\Vo 
sup- 
tono 
cask 


u 


of  beef  or  pork  since  we  came  here."  •*  And 
we  shall  not,  I  hope,  while  a  bird  or  beast  re- 
mains to  be  shot,  or  a  fish  to  be  caught,"  cried 
Hairy. 

As  there  was  not  a  hut  vacant  in  which  to 
Btoie  the  lading  of  the  wagons,  Philip  arranged 
to  take  the  family  across  in  the  boat,  with  their 
bedding  and  other  necessary  articles,  and  to  re- 
turn at  once  for  the  remainder.  "  I  am  sure  that 
if  D'Arcy  knew  it  he  would  help,  but  we  shall 
have  a  full  moon  up  presently,  and  I  would 
rather  get  the  work  done  now  than  wait  for  day, 
when  the  heat  on  the  lake  will  be  considerable," 
he  observed. 

Mr.  Judson  undertook  to  watch  the  luggage. 
*'  Not  that  there's  much  need  of  that,"  he  re- 
marked, "for  the  Injuns  about  here  is  honest  fel- 
lows, and  there  isn't  a  white  settler  who'd  touch 
as  much  as  a  h'apporth  of  baccy,  'cept  maybe  a 
newly-arrived  Irishman,  who  hasn't  learnt  the 
ways  of  the  country." 

The  boat   was  of  good  size,   calculated   for 


Ill  i 


82 


The  Log  House; 


I  » 


il 


the  waters  of  Lake  Huron,  and  fitted  with  masts 
and  sails,  though  these  were  not  now  usod. 
The  lake  was  smooth  as  glass,  reflecting  tlie 
bright  stars  from  the  clear  sky,  and  broken  only 
by  the  fish  which  here  and  there  rose  to  the  sur- 
face, showing  their  size  by  the  loud  sound  of 
the  splashes  they  made.  The  irregular  borders 
of  the  lake  rose  clear  and  well-defined  on  every 
side  ahead,  appearing  to  be  of  considerable 
height,  almost  mountains,  in  the  doubtful  light 
of  morning.  Philip,  with  Harr}^  and  Charley, 
and  Peter,  with  a  lad  they  had  hiied,  pulled, 
while  Mr.  Ashton  steered.  "  Row,  brothers, 
row,"  sang  out  Harry.  "  Our  home  is  ahead, 
and  daylight  is  past.  I  am  glad  that  the  rapids 
are  not  near,  though,  for  with  our  well-freighted 
craft  it  would  be  a  ticklish  job  running  them,  I 


guess.*- 


The  moon  soon  rose  large  and  clear,  a  brilliant 
globe  floating  in  ether  rather  than  the  pale- 
colored  disc  which  it  appears  in  England.  As  it 
shot  upward  in  the  clear  sky  it  shed  a  silvery 


tlL 


Or,  Advgnturet  in  Canadd, 


sa 


liglit  over  the  soene,  which  became  perfectly 
fairy-like  in  its  beauty.  "  It  Is  well  worth  leav- 
ing all  the  glare  and  busilo  of  London  for  Iho 
sake  of  enjoying  such  a  scene  as  this,"  said 
Sophy,  and  her  sisters  echoed  the  sentiment. 
*♦  I  remember  just  such  an  one  on  Como,*'  ob- 
served Pliilip,  who  had  made  a  tour  on  the  Con- 
tinent during  the  last  long  vacation.  **  But  even 
if  the  scene  we  have  left  equalled  this  in  beauty, 
I  should  prize  this  far  more,"  replied  his  sister. 
"  1  will  tell  you  why.  I  feel  that  this  is  our 
own  ;  we  are  at  home  here,  and  may  admire  it 
without  regret,  because  we  know  that  we  may 
enjoy  it  over  and  over  again." 

*'  Hillo  !  what  boat  is  that?  "  shouted  a  voice 
from  some  distance,  and  a  dark  object  glided 
from  behind  a  tree-covered  islet  they  were  pass- 
ing, and  crossed  the  bright  pathway  which  the 
moon  cast  athwart  the  lake.  *'  What,  D'Arey  ! 
is  that  you  ?  "  shouted  Philip,  in  return.  "  It's 
myself,  unless  I  happen  to  be  changed  into 
another  gintleman,"  was  the  Irish-like  reply, 
8 


a^ 


The  Log  House; 


'■ 


tl 


II 


*'  All  light,  old  fellow,  come  along.  I  want 
joiir  promised  aid,"  said  Philip.  '*  1  have  somo 
lew  cargoes  of  goods  to  bo  transported  across  the 
liiivo  before  the  moon  sets,  and  you  are  the  very 
man  I  was  wishing  for." 

**  Why,  Philip,  are  you  not  asking  too  much 
of  a  gentleman  who  must  be  almost  a  stranger 
to  you  ?  "  enquired  Sophy,  in  a  doubtful  tone. 

*'  Not  at  all ;  we  all  help  each  other  out  here  ; 
I  have  found  out  that,"  answered  her  brother. 

**  He  is  a  capital  fellow,  a  gentleman  to  the 
backbone,  and  knows  that  I  will  do  tho  same  for 
him  with  equal  pleasure.  We  are  fortunate  in 
having  such  a  neighbor,  and  from  what  he  tells 
me,  he  hopes  to  have  his  mother  a"»'^  sisters  out 
when  he  has  got  things  a  little  square." 

D'Arcy's  boat  was  soon  alongside.  When  he 
heard  who  had  arrived,  he  volunteered  at  once 
to  go  to  the  settlement  to  begin  loading  his  boat, 
that  he  might  assist  Philip  when  he  wanted  to 
load  his.  "  A  capital  idea,  D'Arcy,  just  like 
you ;  do  so,  old  fellow,"  was  all  Philip  said  aa 


•miamrmmmitk 


Or,  Adventure*  in  Canada, 


85 


I  want 
ive  soiiio 
cross  llio 
the  veiy 

00  much 
stranger 
ful  tone. 
Lit  here ; 
brother. 

1  to  the 
ame  for 
nate  in 
he  tells 
ers  out 

hen  he 
at  once 
|is  boat, 
nted  to 
U  like 
>uid  as 


-''i 


they  parted.  In  a  short  time  the  boat  was  along- 
side a  small  wooden  pier,  which  afforded  a 
convenient  landing-place.  **  The  house  is  some 
way  up  the  hill ;  I  will  steer  you  between  the 
stumps,"  said  Philip,  offering  his  arm  to  his 
mother,  while  the  rest  followed  in  their  wake. 
A  few  minutes'  walk  brouijfht  them  in  front  of  a 
plunk  edifice  of  the  Swiss  cottage  style  ;  the 
defects  of  which,  whatever  they  were,  were  not 
vi-ible  by  moonlight.  There  were  four  doors, 
an*(l  as  many  rather  diminutive  windows.  **  This 
is  but  a  summer-house,  remember,"  said  Philip, 
as  they  stood  before  the  long  low  building. 
"  We  had  to  build  our  house  according  to  our 
planks  ;  your  room  is  at  one  end,  then  comes  the 
sitting-room,  and  then  ours,  and  the  girls'. 
Remember,  five  days  ago  the  foundations  were 
not  commenced.  We  don't  take  long  to  raise  a 
house  in  this  country  ;  —  but,  enter.'* 

All  were  delighted,  for  although  the  cottage 
was  but  a  long,  narrow  shed,  by  means  of  three 
divisions  and  a  liberal  use  of  canvas  and  paper, 


•h    ! 

r 


if 


86 


The  Log  House; 


Philip   and    his   assistants    had   formed    a   neat 

sitting-room     and    two     bedrooms,     besides     a 

* 

rougher  one  for  himself  and  his  brothers.  In 
the  sitting-room  was  a  tabic  covered  with  a 
most  attractive-looking  meal,  though  decked 
with  neither  china,  glass,  nor  plate.  A  bright 
lamp  hanging  from  the  roof  lighted  up  the  little 
room,  and  gave  it  much  of  the  appearance  of  a 
cabin.  "  We  have  only  to  fancy,"  said  Philip, 
*'  that  we  are  on  board  ship  without  the  danger 
of  shipwreck,  or  being  tumbled  about  in  a 
storm,  and  we  may  congratulate  ourselves  on  the 
extent  of  our  accommodation.  We  have  twice 
as  many  cubic  feet  of  air  for  each  person  as  the 
passengers  on  board  an  emigrant  ship,  and  can 
admit  as  much  more  as  we  please.  There,  make 
yourselves  at  home.  Father  will  now  do  the 
honors,  and  Jem  is  boiling  the  kettle  for  tea  in 
the  kitchen.  I  must  be  ofP,  and  hope  to  be 
back  soon  with  D'Arcy  and  your  traps." 

Away  went  Philip  down  to  the  boat,  whence 
his  father  with  the  rest  had  been  bringing  up  her 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


87 


a   neat 

sides     a 

• 

lers.    Ill 

witli    a 

decked 

\.  bii-hfc 

he  lilllo 

nee  01  a 

.  Philip, 

>  danger 

it    in  a 

on  tlie 

e  twice 

as  the 

nd  can 

,  make 

:lo   the 

:  tea  in 

to   be 

whence 
up  her 


ladinc^.  Who  could  ha\e  recognized  in  the 
energetic,  high-spirited  bade  woodsman  Philip 
had  become,  the  refined  and  somewhat  sedate 
and  stiff  young  student  of  a  year  ago.  By-the- 
bye,  the  kitchen  of  which  he  spoke  was  a  lean-to 
ot  birch  bark,  under  which  a  can^.p  stove  had 
been  placed  :  near  it  was  a  shed  prepared  for 
the  reception  of  the  stores,  among  which  Peter 
proposed  to  take  up  his  abode.  Philip's  plan  of 
fitting  up  the  cottage  was  much  admired.  To 
the  walls 'and  roof  he  had  first  nailed  some 
common  canvas,  on  this  he  had  pasted  news- 
papers, which  he  had  again  covered  with  a 
common,  cheerful-looking  paper,  such  as  is  nsed 
generally  for  covering  walls.  The  table  itself 
consisted  of  some  rough  planks  nailed  to  tressels, 
and  the  bedsteads  were  formed  of  rough  pine 
poles  with  canvaa  stretched  across  them. 
Shelves  and  pegs  round  the  rooms  vvould  enable 
their  inmates  to  keep  them  as  neat  as  cabins. 

The  voices  of  the  rest  of  the  party  were  heard 
sooner  than  was  expected.     **  We   pressed    the 


Tf-r 


i|ii 


—  y 


;;  ' 


! 


i     f 


1 


88 


TAe  Zo^  House; 


ill 


^! 


third  boat  on  the  lake  into  our  service  and  have 
brought  everything,**  said  Philip,  entering  with 
a  slight  young  man,  who,  in  spite  of  a  very  rougli, 
much- worn  costume,  looked  the  gentleman.  "  I 
have  the  pleasure  of  introducing  my  friend  Mr. 
Lawrence  D'Arcy,  my  fellow  laborer,  who,  let 
me  tell  you,  made  every  inch  of  the  furniture  of 
our  mansion  in  a  wondrous  brief  time.  He  had 
not  begun  it  yesterday  morning,  for  he  was  help- 
ing me  to  paper  the  walls  till  nearly  noon.'* 

"  It  is  the  work  of  a  self-taught  artist,'*  said 
Lawrence  D'Arcy.  "  But,  really,  there  is  little 
to  boast  of  in  having  put  together  a  few  rough 
poles.  The  plan  is  the  only  thing  to  merit  com- 
mendation.'* 

Of  course  everybody  thanked  Mr.  D'Arcy, 
and  he  at  once  felt  himself  perfectly  at  home. 
Never  did  the  finest  baronial  mansion  afford 
more  satisfaction  to  the  occupiers  than  did  Philip's 
quickly-built  cottage.  It  stood  on  a  platform  on 
the  side  of  the  hill,  looking  south  over  the  lake, 
and  sheltered  by  the  ground  above  it  from  the 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


ki 


rough 


com- 


icy  blast  of  the  north.  There  was  not  space  on 
the  platform  for  a  larger  building ;  but  a  little 
way  off  was  a  much  wider  piece  of  level  ground, 
and  here  already  logs  were  laid  for  a  log  house. 

"  The  cottage  was  an  after-thought,"  said 
Philip,  showing  the  plan  of  the  log  house.  "  I 
knew  that  we  could  not  get  this  fitted  up  in 
time,  and  planking  being  abundant  and,  cheap,  I 
bethought  me  of  running  on  a  plank  cottage 
which  will  serve  you  till  you  can  get  into  the 
more  substantial  mansion.  With  a  stove  and  ad- 
ditional banking  up  outside  it  may  be  made 
warm  enough  even  for  winter.'* 

Never  was  a  family  more  busy,  or  one  more 
contented  and  happy.  **  Our  present  abode  will 
make  a  magnificent  dairy  when  we  get  into  the 
big  mansion,"  cried  Agnes,  as  she  saw  the  walls 
of  the  log  house  quickly  rising.  "How  clean 
and  nice  the  pans  will  look  arranged  round 
the  walls  and  the  churn  in  the  middle.'*  Your 
notions  are  rather  too  grand,  I  fear,  dear," 
said  her  mother.     **  We  have  only  got  one  cow, 


't 


ll 


iS 


il 


40 


The  Log  House; 


and  there  will  be  room  here  for  the  milk  of  fifty.'* 
"  Ah  !  hut  the  clay  will  come  when  we  may  have 
fifty.  That  heautiful  iiieadow  by  the  side  of  the 
stream  to  the  ri!»ht  will  feed  almost  that  number," 
said  Agnes.  "  I  should  be  content  with  four 
or  five,  so  that  we  may  make  our  own  butter  and 
cheese,  and  have  cream  and  milk  in  abundance." 
observed. Fanny.  "  I  should  like  to  have  time 
to  attend  to  our  garden,  and  poultry,  and  pigs ; 
and  then,  remember,  we  are  not  to  grow  into 
savages,  so  we  must  have  reading,  and  keep  up 
our  music  and  drawing,  and  then  there  will  be 
all  sorts  of  household  work  to  attend  to." 

Sophy  sided  with  Fanny,  and  Philip  put  an 
end  to  the  discussion  about  the  dairy,  by  telling 
them  that  he  had  calculated  on  using  up  the 
planks  of  the  cottage  for  the  flooring  of  part  of 
the  new  house. 

That  building  got  on  with  wonderful  rapidity. 
Day  after  day  Mr.  Lawrence  D'Arcy  came  over 
with  his  man  Terry,  a  faithful  fellow,  born  on 
his  father's  estate  in  Ireland,  who  had  been  his 


Or^  Adventures  in  Canada, 


41 


servant  in  the  army  for  several  years.  Pliilip 
had,  for  the  purpose  of  economizing  heat  and 
and  saving  roofing,  resolved  to  make  the  house 
of  two  stories.  The  walls  were  formed  of  hori- 
zontal logs  ;  the  upper  part  of  each  log  was 
scooped  out  so  as  to  admit  the  round  of  the  one 
above  it  to  fit  in,  and  the  ends  were  deeply 
notched  for  the  logs  forming  the  walls  at  a  right 
ftn<jfle  to  it.  A  height  sufficient  for  the  ground 
floor  chambers  having  been  gained,  notches  were 
cut  and  the  rafters  placed  across.  Shears  were 
erected  to  raise  the  higher  logs,  and  shingles, 
which  are  thin  split  planks  of  fir,  formed  the 
roof.  The  house  stood  on  a  platform  to  raise  it 
above  the  snow  ;  the  floor  being  thus  some  way 
from  the  ground.  A  verandah  ran  round  the 
wiiole  building,  affording  a  sheltered  walk  when 
the  inmates  might  not  otherwise  be  able  to  get 
fresh  air. 

Had  not  the  settlers  been  so  strong  handed, 
the  work  now  accomplished  could  not  have  been 
performed  before  the  winter  ;  but  it  was  the  ia- 


ii 


42 


The  Log  House, 


ble  of  the  bundle  of  sticks  exemplified.  Such  a 
building  would  not  have  been  attempted  except 
for  the  sake  of  the  ladies,  as  the  settlers  would 
have  employed  all  their  strength  in  pi cparing  tlie 
ground  for  cultivation.  That  necessary  proceed- 
ing was  not  however  neglected,  and  six  acres 
were  chopped  and  burnt  off  before  the  snow 
covered  up  the  brush- wood. 

"Here  we  are,  fairly  settled  in  our  log  house." 
said  Mr.  Ash  ton,  as  he  surveyed  the  result  of  his 
son's  architectural  skill.  "  Let  us  with  grateful 
hearts  thank  our  Heavenly  Father  who  hjis  led 
us  thus  far  in  safety.*' 


!  i' 


,-' 


CHAPTER  V. 

HERE  were  sisjns  that  winter  was  about 
to  begin.  Snow-storms  had  appeared 
^>->  from  over  the  hill,  and  swept  across  the 
lake.  Ice  had  formed  around  the  ed(j:e3 
in  shallow  pools,  but  the  hot  sun  had  come  out 
and  completely  thawed  it.  Often  among  the 
pine  woods  the  heat  was  excessive.  Had  it  not 
been  for  the  rich-growing  tints  of  the  trees  which 
fringed  the  lake  and  covered  its  islets,  it  would 
have  been  difficult  to  suppose  that  summer  had 
passed  away.  There  were  the  bright  reds  and 
yellows  of  the  maple,  the  pale  straw-color  of  the 
beech,  the  copper  hues  of  the  oaks  ;  and,  indeed, 
Sophy   found   that  she   could    exhaust  all   the 

(43) 


44 


The  Log  House; 


'I  iX 


1 


brightest  colors  of  her  paint -Lox,  and  j-et  not 
give  sufficient  varieLy  or  brilliancy  to  portray 
correctly  the  gorgeous  tints  of  the  landscape 
spread  out  before  the  Window ;  nor  was  there 
blue  to  be  found  equal  to  the  blue  of  the  lake, 
still  less  of  the  sky  above  it.  She  was  glad  that 
she  had  finished  her  drawing  in  time,  for  a  strong 
north  wind  sprang  up,  and  a  sharp  frost  sent 
every  leaf,  pinched  off,  flying  away,  and  the  next 
morning  a  few  only  hanging  to  dead  boughs 
gave  a  somewhat  warm  tinge  to  the  otherwise 
dark  green  and  dark  brown  appearance  of  the 
lake  shore. 

*'  Excellent !  it  would  give  my  dear  people  at 
home  some  idea  of  the  beauties  we  have  out 
here,"  exclaimed  D'Arcy,  who  happened  to  look 
in  the  day  Sophy  had  finished  her  sketch.  "  I 
should  be  so  thankful  if  you  could  make  a  copy 
for  me  ;  still  more  so  if  I  might  aspire  to  possess 
the  original.'* 

"What  could  have  made  Sophy  blu^h  so  just 
now?  "  said  Charley  to  Agnes,  after  D'Arcy  had 


■i; 


i 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


4.") 


tals'en  his  leave.  There  the  de:ir  thin,;-  slaiitU 
looking-  at  the  lake :  what  a  woiulcr  to  slu  her 
doiiiL^  iiothiiiG;'.'*  _ 

D'Arcy  leaped  gayly  into  his  boat,  hoisted  tlie 
main-sail,  a  large  one  for  her  size,  cast  off  iho 
painter,  and  hauling  aft  the  main-sheet  as  she 
paid-off  with  the  fore-sail,  waved  an  adieu  to  his 
friends  on  shore.  The  lake  sparkled  brightly  as 
miniature  waves  curled  over  its  surface  ;  faster 
and  faster  the  boat  flew  amid  them,  seeming  to 
delight  in  her  freedom.  The  breeze  freshened; 
a  blaek  cloud  came  up  along  the  course  of  the 
river  from  Lake  Huron  ;  it  rushed  across  the  sky, 
followed  by  others,  casting  a  shadow  over  the 
lake.  A  shriek  from  Sophy  made  Philip  rush 
out  from  his  workshop,  saw  in  hand,  followed  by 
Harry.  The  white  sail  of  D'Arcy's  boat  had 
disappeared,  and  a  dark  mass  was  alone  visible 
on  the  spot  where  she  had  been. 

"  He  is  a  good  swimmer,  and  will  have  got 
upon  the  bottom,"  cried  Philip;  but  his  heart 
misgave  him,  for  the  cold  wind  had  made  D'Arcy 


46 


The  Log  Home; 


put  on  his  thick  coat  and  hoiivy  boots.     Il.irry 

run  towards  tiieir  large  boat.     The  sails  and  oars 

,weie  on  shore.     **  No,  no,  —  the  canoe!"  cried 

m 

Piiilip.  An  l4i(lian  hunter,  a  friend  of  DArcy  s, 
had  left  his  canoe  on  the  beach  in  the  morning*. 
The  paddles  were  in  her.  To  launch  her  and 
step  gingerly  in  was  the  work  of  an  instant ;  and 
as  fast  as  Philip  and  Harry  could  ply  their  pad- 
dles, the  light  canoe  flew  across  the  lake. 

The  rest  of  the  family  were  soon  on  the  shore, 
Mr.  Ash  ton,  who  saw  the  danger  to  which  his 
sons  were  exposed  in  their  eagerness  to  save  their 
friend,  watching  their  progress  with  the  greatest 
anxiety.  He  unfortunately  did  not  understand 
the  management  of  a  boat  as  did  his  sons ;  nor 
did  Peter,  or  he  would  have  gone  after  them. 
The  canoe  tossed  up  and  down,  apparently 
scarcely  able  to  buffet  with  even  the  small  waves, 
to  the  lashing  of  which  she  was  exposed.  Still 
Philip  and  Harry  bravely  pursued  their  course, 
their  eyes  straining  ahead,  and  utterly  regardless 
of  the  danger  they  themselves  were  running. 


i* 


Or,  Adventures  in  (-anada. 


47 


•*  Phil,  can  you  see  him?"  cried  ILuTy.  "I 
tlunk  I  do.  Yes,  surely,  there's  soinethiii;^  mov- 
ing on  the  i)OiiL's  keel."  **  Yes,  I  hope  so  :  he'3 
lying  his  length  alon^^  it ;  he  could  not  sit  up,'* 
answered  Philip.  **  How  bitterly  cold  the  wind 
blows  out  here."  "Yes,  he  will  be  almost  frozen, 
poor  i'ellow ;  he  will  lose  his  boat,  too,"  said 
Harry.  "  Shall  we  carry  him  back  to  his  place, 
or  back  to  our  own  ?  "  **  Certainly,  to  ours.  In 
his  own  hut  he  has  no  one  to  look  after  him 
properly ;  while  with  us  he  will  have  no  lack 
of  nurses,"  remarked  Philip.  "Paddle  away, 
Harry;  he  sees  us."  **  Hurrah,  D'Arcy  I"  cried 
Harry,  "  we  are  coming  to  you,  old  fellow."  A 
hand  was  seen  to  wave  in  return  to  Harry's  cheer, 
"  All  right  —  all  right  I  "  cried  Harry,  delighted, 
"  he  is  there  and  alive  I " 

D'Arcy  had  managed  to  get  one  of  his  boots 
off,  but  he  had  great  difficulty  in  clinging  to  the 
keel.  He  did  not  cry  out  to  his  friends  to  make 
haste,  for  he  knew  that  they  were  doing  their 
utmost   to  reach  him.     They   encouraged   him, 


48 


The,  Lo(j  House  ; 


I 


however,  to  hold  on  ;  for  they  judjjjed,  by  the 
chilly  hliist  whieh  svepl  iicross  the  lake,  that  ho 
must  l)e  nuinhud  and  fanitinLT.  At  leii.th  tlicy 
got  alongside  the  boat ;  and  now  the  greatest 
caution  was  necessary,  lest,  in  taking  him  in,  the 
canoe  should  be  ca[)sized.  The  boat  likewise, 
on  being  touched,  might  roll  up,  ami  with  hor 
mast  stave  in  the  fragile  side  of  the  canoe.  It 
seemed  almost  impossible  to  accomplish  their  ob- 
ject without  upsetting  themselves.  Those  who 
know  wliat  a  birch-bark  canoe  is  like  will  best 
understand  the  difficulty.  "  Take  me  in  by  the 
head,"  said  D'Arcy  ;  ''  I'll  crawl  in."  Tliey  ac- 
cordingly paddled  round  to  the  stern  of  the  boat, 
to  which  Philip  made  the  bow  of  the  canoe  fast, 
and  he  was  then  able  to  reach  over  sufficiently 
to  take  hold  of  D'Arcy's  hands,  and  to  drag  him 
on  till  he  could  place  one  foot  on  each  gunwale 
of  the  canoe,  and  then,  by  drawing  himself  back, 
he  took  the  weight  off  the  bow  and  gradufdly 
drew  his  friend  on  board.  D'Arcy's  knees,  how- 
ever, very  nearly  went  through  the  thin  bottom. 


I: 


Or^  Adventures  in  Canada. 


49 


IIo  asked  thorn  to  continue  on  to  his  clcarin;^, 
thiit  he  might  get  off  attain  nnd  try  to  .save  liis 
boat;  but  Pliilip  would  not  hear  of  it.  *' No, 
no,"  lie  answered,  **  she  will  drift  on  shore  not 
far  off,  and  we  shall  easily  be  able  to  find  her; 
and  you  will  catch  your  death  of  cold  if  you  are 
not  looked  after  immediately."  "  But  poor  Terry 
will  go  out  of  his  mind  if  he  supposes  that  I  am 
lost,"  argued  D'Arey,  "  We  will  try  to  let  him 
know,"  said  Philip.  ''Besides,  at  our  place,  if 
we  go  on,  they  will  not  know  whether  we  are 
all  lost,  or  you  are  saved." 

This  settled  the  question.  "  There,  lie  down 
at  the  bottom,  and  we  will  cover  you  up 
with  our  jackets,"  said  Philip.  "Give  wav, 
Harry." 

To  paddle  back  in  the  teeth  of  the  freeze  n 7 
wind  was  no  easy  work,  and  more  than  once 
Philip  wished  that,  for  his  friend's  sake,  he  had 
gone  on  to  his  clearing;  still,  he  guessed  rightly, 
that  every  means  to  prevent  injurious  effects 
would  be  got  ready.     Manfully  they  paddled  on, 


! 


50 


The  Log  House; 


m 


m     \ 


I 


!. 


but  the  spray  from  the  small  but  quick-corning 
waves  dashed  in  their  faces,  and  the  slightest 
cessation  of  exertion  allowed  the  light  canoe  to 
be  blown  back  again  like  a  feather  before  thv^ 
breeze.  Nobly  they  persevered.  Once  under 
the  lee  of  the  land,  they  knew  that  their  progress 
would  be  more  rapid.  At  last  they  caught  sight 
of  their  own  landing-place.  Philip  gave  a  flour- 
ish with  his  paddle,  and  pointed  to  the  bottom 
of  the  canoe.  The  communication  was  under^ 
Btood,  and  a  door,  with  blankets,  were  ready  to 
carry  D'Arcy  up  to  the  house.  He  begged,  how- 
ever, to  be  allowed  to  walk  up,  declaring  that  he 
was  well  able  to  do  so,  though  he  did  not  object 
to  having  a  couple  of  blankets  thrown  over  his 
shoulders.  He  found,  however,  that  he  had 
miscalculated  his  strength,  and  without  help  he 
could  scarcely  move.  The  next  morning  the 
effects  of  the  wetting  and  exposure  were  more 
conspicuous,  and  all  the  skill  of  Nurse  Summers 
was  required  to  bring  him  round.  For  several 
days  he  was  kept  in  bed,  and  even  when  he  was 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


61 


loming 


\<jh\  est 
noe  to 
>re  tlifl 

under 
rogres3 
it  eight 
a  flour- 
bottom 

•under« 
>ady  to 
d,  how- 

that  he 
object 

ver   his 

le   had 
elp  he 


ins:  the 


more 
immers 
[several 
lie  was 


able  to  get  itp,  the  Ash  tons  would  not  let  him 
leave  I  hem.  "  You  are  utterly  unfit  for  work, 
my  dear  fellow,"  said  Pialip.  *' You  will  get 
well  here  much  faster  than  sitting  over  the  fire 
in  your  own  shanty,  and  leave  Terry  more  at 
liberty  to  go  on  with  your  house.  He  is  con- 
tented enough  now  he  knows  we  have  you  ia 
safe  keeping." 

It  was  wonderful  with  what  equanimity  Mr. 
D'Arcy  consented  to  remain  the  guest  of  the 
Ash  tons.  He  was  not  idle,  for  he  read  while  the 
ladies  worked,  taught  Charley  to  net,  and  took 
Philip's  place  as  his  school-master  in  the  even- 
ing, and  imparted  a  large  stock  of  backwoods- 
man's lore  to  all  the  family.  Philip  and  Harry 
had,  directly  they  returned  after  rescuing  him, 
set  off  in  their  big  boat,  and  arrived  at  his  clear- 
ing in  time  to  prevent  poor  Terry  from  going  out 
of  his  mind,  which  he  was  nearly  doing  at  seeing 
his  master's  boat  drift  by,  and  believing  he  was 
lost.  They  found  him  wringing  his  hands,  and 
uttering  a  truly  Irish  lament  as  he  contemplated 


m 


52 


The  Log  House; 


i 


the  boat  which  had  driven  on  shore  a  Bhort  dis- 
tance from  the  cottage  shanty.  So  occupied  had 
he  been  in  watching  the  upset  boat  that  he  had 
not  observed  their  approach. 

"  Och  !  sad's  the  day  ;  and  I'll  never  more  be 
after  seeing  him  again,  the  dear  young  masther, 
barrin'  it's  his  corpse  is  sent  up  by  the  cruel 
waves  on  the  shore,  and  I'll  be  left  all  alone  in 
this  desart  counthry  t  j  bury  him,  the  last  hope 
of  the  D'Arcy's,  instead  of  in  the  tomb  of  his 
ancestors  in  ould  Ireland.  And  what'U  the 
poor  mistLress  be  doing  when  she  hears  the 
news  ?  sorrow  a  bit  could  my  hand  write  the 
words  ;  I  couldn't  do  it  even  if  I  had  the  'art, 
nor  my  tongue  tell  it,  I'd  sooner  cut  it  of  my 
mouth ;  and  sweet  Misthress  Katharine  and 
Misthress  Lily,  they'll  cry  their  pretty  eyes  out, 
they  will."  Again  he  set  up  a  long,  melancholy 
howl,  not  linlike  that  of  a  dog  baying  at  the 
moon.  The  sound  of  the  Ashtons'  boat  touch- 
ing the  shore  made  him  look  up,  with  an  ex- 
pression of  hope  in  his  countenance,  as  if  ha 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


63 


ex- 
lif  ii0 


expected  to  see  his  master,  but  it  suddenly 
changed  to  one  of  still  greater  sorrow  when  he 
discovered  that  he  was  not  of  the  party.  Philip 
eager  to  soothe  his  anxiety,  shouted  out,  as  he 
St  e[)ped  on  shore,  "  Rouse  up,  Terry,  we  Ii'avo 
hi  in  all  safe  on  shore,  only  rather  wet  and  cold.'* 
*'  Is  it  the  thruth  ye  are  spaking,  Masther 
Pliilip  ?  Arrah,  an'  I'm  shure  it  is,"  cried  Terry, 
rushintj  towards  him  with  frant?"  ^T^stures  of  de- 
light.  *'  Just  say  that  word  again,  he's  safe,  au* 
hlessin's  on  yer  honest  face,  for  I'm  shure  ye 
could  not  dosave  a  poor  gossoon  like  myself.'* 
Philip  repeated  his  assertion,  and  was  not  a  lit- 
tle astonished  to  find  liini>elf  seized  in  Terry's 
arms,  and  hugged  till  the  breath  was  nearly  out 
of  his  body.  The  honest  fellow's  feeling  then 
gave  way  in  a  burst  of  tears,  which  flowed  while 
he  a[)ologized  for  the  liberty  he  became  conscious 
ha  had  taken. 

D'Arcy's  stay  with  his  friends  was  prolonged 
over  several  days,  and  it  was  not  till  he  was  per- 


54 


The  Log  House, 


ii 


fectly  recovered  that  they  would  allow  him  to 
go  back  to  his  clearing.  He  found  several  sub- 
jects to  ponder  on  when  he  got  there. 


W'--'' 


CHAPTER  VI. 

HE  south  wind  blew  softly,   the  air  was 

pure  and  balmly,  the  sun  shone  brightly, 

and  the  waters  of  the  lake  vied  with  the 

sky  in  the   clearness  of  its   azure   tints. 
The  birds,  too,  were  warbling  forth  a  happy  song ; 

not,  however,  with  the  full  swelling  chorus  of 
spring,  but  yet  sufficiently  to  give  cheerfulness 
to  the  otherwise  silent  woods.  It  is  a  calumny 
on  the  feathered  tribes  of  Canada  to  assert  that 
they  have  no  song ;  the  blackbird  can  sing  when 
he  is  inclined,  as  sweetly  as  his  brother  in  Eng- 
land, and  the  Canadian  robin's  notes  are  as   full 

(55) 


66 


The  Log  House; 


of  glee  as  those  of  his  smaller  namesake  in  the 
old  country. 

*'  By  turning  our  eyes  from  the  bare  maples, 
beeclies,  and  oaks,  towards  the  pine  trees,  we 
mii,^ht  fancy  that  summer  had  come  back  again," 
said  Philip;  "  the  Indian  summer  at  all  events. 
Sliould  to-morrow  be  like  this,  I  propose  look- 
ing up  D'Arcy.  It's  some  days  since  we  heard 
of  him,  and  he  will  be  feeling  that  we  got  tired 
of  him  wilh  his  visit  here,  poor  fellow."  *'  Oh  ! 
don't  let  him  think  that ! "  exclaimed  Sophy, 
earnestly.  ''  No,  that  I  will  not,"  said  Pliilip. 
"  Who'll  go  ?  A  little  recreation  will  do  some 
of  us  good,  and  we'll  work  all  the  better  when 
we  come  back.'* 

Something  kept  Sophy  from  volunteering  to 
be  of  the  party,  but  her  younger  sisters  jumped 
at  the  proposal.  *'  I  know  that  you  are  careful- 
ness itself,  Philip,"  said  Mrs.  Ashton  ;  *'  but  I 
entreat  you  to  have  but  very  little  sail  set.'* 
"  Indeed,  mother,  I  will  carry  only  what  is 
absolutely   necessary,"  answered  Philip.     "  We 


11 


^Z^'ifif' 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


57 


need  be  in  no  hurry  —  if  the   breeze   holds,   we 
shall  have  a  soldier's  wind,  fair  each  way.'* 

The  breeze  did  not  hold,  and  towards  evenin<^ 
a  thick  fog  came  on.  During  the  night  a  curious 
crackling  sound  was  heard,  and  when  daylight 
returned,  the  whole  lake  appeared  frozen  over. 
The  entire  household  was  soon  on  foot  and  brav- 
ing the  keen,  frosty  air,  to  observe  the  change 
which  a  few  short  hours  had  wrou<jfht.  There 
must  have  been  a  perfect  calm  when  the  ice 
took,  for  the  entire  surface  of  the  lake  was 
smooth  as  a  polished  mirror  and  of  the  samo 
hue ;  while  the  surrounding  trees  and  every 
shrub  and  blade  of  grass  to  be  seen  was  covered 
with  a  coating  of  the  purest  white.  Suddenly 
the  sun  rose  above  the  wooded  hill  to  the  east, 
and  the  whole  side  of  the  lake  on  which  its 
beams  were  cast,  began  to  sparkle  and  flash  as 
if  covered  with  gems  of  the  purest  water.  A 
light  breeze  waved  the  branches  to  and  fro, 
and  now  they  flashed  and  shone  with  increased 
brilliancy,  fresh   colors   bursting  into  sight  till 


58 


The  Log  House; 


I' 


iii 


1 

i   1 

Iii 

1    ■    : 

( 

'i 

li 

; 

,     l»t~ 

1 
r 

not  a  gem  was  unrepresented  in  tliis  gorgeous 
display  of  *'  Nature's  jewel-box,"  as  Harry  called 
it. 

"  Well,  Fanny,"  he  exclaimed,  "  you  need 
not  regret  being  unable  to  go  to  court,  for  T  am  * 
very  certain  that  all  the  duchesses,  and  count- 
esses, and  lady  mayoresses  to  boot,  couldn't 
make  sucli  a  display  as  that."  As  the  warmth 
of  the  sun  increased,  the  trees  began  to  drip, 
and  the  lovely  spectacle  vanished  by  noon. 
*'  We  need  not  regret  it,  for  beautiful  as  it  was, 
I  believe  that  wt  may  see  many  more  to  surpass 
it  before  the  return  of  spring,"  said  Mr.  Ashton. 
"  Ah  !  little  do  our  pitying  friends  at  home  guess 
the  ample  amends  which  nature  makes  to  us  for 
what  we  have  lost.  I  prize  the  blessings  we 
enjoyed  in  England  ;  but,  after  all,  we  have  only 
exchanged  them  for  others  which  our  beneficent 
Maker  has  bestowed  on  us  of  equal  value." 

The  ice,  though  bearing  in  some  places,  could 
not  be  trusted,  and  of  course  the  expedition  to 
D'Arcy's  clearing  was  given  up  for  the  present ; 


P' 


m 


Ort  Adventures  in  Canada, 


59 


gorgeous 
y  called 

u   need 
or  I  am  ' 

1  count- 
ouldu't 

to  diip, 

noon. 

it  was, 

urpass 

slit  on. 


i^uesa 


us  for 
ffs  we 
only 
ticent 

ould 
on  to 
ent; 


but  in  the  evening,  when  work  was  over,  skates 
were  unpacked,  cleared  of  rust,  and  fitted  to 
slioes.  All  hands  set  to  work  with  increased 
vigor  to  fell  the  trees,  that  might  be  burnt  off 
before  the  snow  should  make  the  operation  more 
difficult  "Another  night  like  the  last,  and  I 
verily  believe  we  might  skate  across  the  lake,'* 
cried  Harry,  rubbing  his  hands  to  restore  the  cir- 
culation of  which  the  cold  had  deprived  them. 

"  Look  out  for  frost-bites,  my  boys,"  said  Mr. 
Ashton;  "Mr.  Norman  charged  me  above  all 
thini^s  to  see  that  you  kept  your  hands  and  feet 
warm."  The  ladies  of  the  family  were  busily 
employed  in  lining  the  boys'  caps,  and  fixing 
flaps  for  their  ears,  and  in  making  mittens  and 
comforters.  One  point  they  had  not  discovered 
and  had  to  learn  by  experience,  the  uselessness  ot 
Ensclish  boots  and  shoes,  however  thick,  for  th 
bush  in  winter,  and  that  nothing  can  surpass, 
and  scarcely  any  foot-gear  equal,  a  light  shoe 
or  slipper,  with  a  very  thick  ribbed  worsted  sock 
over  it,  put  into  an  india-rubber  golosh,  which 


I 


60 


The  Log  House; 


is  kept  on  by  a  high  sprinGj  gaiter.*  There  was 
no  longer  any  doubt  about  the  ice  bearini^,  and 
BO,  having  worked  hard  all  the  morning,  Philip, 
Harry,  and  Charley  set  off  with  skates  on  feet, 
the  two  latter  in  high  glee  at  the  thought  of 
going  so  great  a  distance  over  the  ice.  They 
had  been  practising  for  the  last  three  days  in  a 
sliallow  bay  near  the  house,  and  had  no  misgiv- 
ings as  to  holding  out.  Piiilip  would  rather 
have  gone  alone,  or  at  all  events,  with  Harry 
only  ;  but  Charley  begged  so  hard  to  be  allowed 


♦  An  Indian  moccasin  over  two  pairs  of  thick  socks 
is  good  in  a  hard  frost,  hut  gets  wet  through  with  the 
sliglitest  moisture.  The  most  important  objects  are  to 
allow  no  pressure  on  any  part  of  the  foot  or  ancle,  to 
keep  the  feet  warm  and  protected  from  fallen  branches 
or  any  other  hard  substance  rising  above  the  snow.  In 
thawing  weather  high  waterproof  boots  worn  over  two 
pairs  of  thick  socks  or  stockings.  The  object  of  having 
the  outer  sock  ribbed  is  to  allow  the  evaporation  ironi 
the  skin  to  have  space  hetween  the  outer  sock  and  tlio 
boot  ;  the  foot  and  inner  sock  will  thus  remain  perfectly 
dry.  The  author  has  walked  long  distances  with  this 
sort  of  foot-gear  with  the  greatest  comfort.  Perfect 
freedom  tor  the  foot  and  toes  is,  it  must  be  repeated, 
most  essential. 


Ory  Adventures  in  Canada, 


61 


ere  was 
ii,S  and 
Philip, 
)n  feet, 

Llgllt  of 

They 
ys  in  a 
nisgiv- 
rather 
Harry 
lowed 


c  socks 

th  the 

are  to 

clo,  to 

inches 

In 

r  two 

ivincf 

Ironi 

(1  the 

eclly 

1  this 

jrfect 

ated, 


to  accompany  tliem  that  he  did  not  like  to  refuse 
him.  Tiiey  expected  not  to  be  more  than  three 
hours  away  at  the  utmost.  The  skates  were 
fixed  firmly  on  the  feet.  Philip  wisely  tried  his 
hy  making  two  or  three  outside  edge  circles  and 
figures  of  eight.  "  Are  you  ready,  boys  ? 
Follow  your  leader,  and  away  we  go.'*  Away 
they  went.  Right  leg  —  left  leg  —  resting  for 
fil'teen  seconds  or  so  on  each  —  their  bodies  now 
t>lightly  inclined  to  one  side,  now  to  the  other, 
like  ships  making  short  tacks.  It  was  exhilarat- 
in ;  exercise.  Their  spirits  rose  to  the  highest 
pitch  as  they  glided  on  —  they  shouted  and 
laughed  with  glee  —  Charley  managed  to  keep 
up,  but  what  was  sport  to  his  brother's,  was 
rather  hard  work  to  him  ;  still  he  would  not  beg 
them  to  slacken  their  speed,  but  kept  on  bravely 
till  his  legs  began  to  ache.  They  had  heard 
Philip  say  that  they  were  not  likely  to  have 
many  such  days  during  the  winter  for  skating  ; 
for  though  there  would  be  no  want  of  ice,  it 
would  be  soon  so  covered  with  snow,  that  it 


62 


The  Log  House; 


I 


would  1)6  impossible  to  get  over  it.  Tlicy  m\^\i 
easily,  to  be  sure,  sweep  a  space  in  the  ice  clear 
of  snow,  but  that  would  be  very  tame  work 
compared  to  flying  over  miles  of  ice  as  they  were 
now  doing.  Charley,  therefore,  would  not,  if 
he  could  help  it,  ask  his  brothers  to  stop.  At 
last  he  found  himself  behind.  With  his  utmost 
exertions  he  could  not  keep  up  with  them. 
While  he  was  thinking  whether  he  should  call 
out,  his  foot  struck  something  (it  was  the  thick 
part  of  a  branch  which  had  been  floating  when 
the  lake  froze),  and  down  he  came.  **  Oh 
Harry,  Harry  I "  he  cried  out.  Harry  heard 
him,  and  circling  round,  skated  back  to  his 
assistance.  Philip  had  gone  some  way,  when 
not  hearing  his  brother's  voices,  he  swept  round 
on  a  half  circle  to  ask  them  why  they  had 
become  so  suddenly  dull.  What  was  his  dismay 
to  find  that  they  were  not  near  him.  Both  were 
stretched  their  length,  as  it  seemed,  on  the  ice, 
at  a  considerable  distance.  As  he  turned  he  was 
conscious  of  a  cracking  noise,  which  seemed  to 


4 


Or,  Adventurer  in  Canada, 


C3 


pass  from  one  end  of  the  lake  to  the  other.  Still 
lii3  must  reach  his  brothers,  or  attempt  to  do  so, 
even  should  the  ice  be  givmg  way  every  stroke 
he  niiide. 

*'  Oh,  the  ice  is  giving  way  I  the  ice  is  giving 
way  !  "  cried  Charley  ;  but  though  the  cracking 
sound  incrjBased,  Philip  did  not  perceive  any 
other  sign  of  this  being  the  case.  '*  Wliat  is  the 
matter  with  you,  Harry  ?  "  he  asked.  "  Oh,  I 
went  to  help  Charley,  and  tumbled  over  the 
same  log  which  capsized  him,"  was  the  answer. 
♦'  lie  says  the  ice  is  giving  way,  and  certainly  the 
water  does  look  terribly  near  to  it."  Such  in- 
deed was  the  case.  Philip,  from  having  kept  his 
eyes  fixed  on  the  land-marks  about  D'Arcy's 
clearing,  had  not  observed  this  so  much  as  Harry 
now  did,  with  his  nose  close  down  to  it.  Wisely 
keeping  at  a  little  distance,  he  advised  them  to 
ciawl  away  from  the  spot  where  they  had  fallen, 
and  then,  a  little  apart  from  each  other,  to  get  on 
their  feet  and  proceed.  Once  more  they  were 
on  their  couise,  but  Philip  made  them  keep  one 


64 


The  Log  House; 


ill 


on  each  side  of  hira,  going  at  a  less  speed  than 
before.  It  was  nervous  work,  though,  for  the 
cracking  noise  increased  in  loudness  till  it  rivalled 
that  of  thunder  —  seeming  to  pass  under  their 
very  feet.  Speed  and  lightness  of  tread  was 
everything.  For  himself  Philip  had  no  fear. 
He  dreaded  only  lest  Charley  should  again  fall, 
and  so  did  his  best  to  keep  up  his  spirits,  and  to 
banish  the  nervousness  from  which  he  saw  that 
he  was  suffering.  As  they  neared  the  shore  the 
noises  ceased  and  their  spirits  rose,  though  they 
were  not  sorry  to  see  D'Arcy  standing  on  the 
beach  to  receive  them. 

His  greeting  was  cordial.  "  I  have  been 
watching  you  for  some  time,  and  did  I  own  a 
pair  of  skates  I  should  have  come  out  to  meet 
you,"  he  said.  "  When  you  all  stopped,  I  began 
to  form  a  sleigh  to  push  off  to  your  assistance,  in 
case  any  one  of  you  should  have  been  hurt,  when 
I  observed  that  you  were  all  on  the  move  again. 
Instead,  therefore,  of  going  on  with  it,  I  sent  in 
Terry  to  cook  some  dinner,  which  you  will  be 
wanting  after  your  long  %." 


Or^  Adventures  in  Canada, 


G5 


The  dinner  was  the  usual  bush  fare — pork 
and  potatoes  (forming  an  Irish  stew),  fish,  caught 
before  the  frost  began,  and  a  dumpling,  which 
probably  had  been  thought  of  only  when  the 
guests  were  first  descried  in  the  distance.  The 
young  men  did  ample  justice  to  the  feast,  and 
perhaps  spent  a  longer  time  over  it  than  they 
intended.  They  had  plenty  to  say,  .about  their 
own  experiences  especially;  and  wlien  the  young 
Ashton;s  compared  notes  with  D'Arcy,  thoy  hiid 
reason  to  consider  their  own  trials  far  less  [\ia\\ 
Ills.  He  had  been  left  alone  to  fiirht  the  biilile 
of  life,  or  rather  with  a  mother  and  sister  de- 
pending on  him.  After  a  once  fine  propeity 
which  he  had  nominally  inherited  had  been  ^old 
in  the  Irish  Incumbered  Estates  Court,  he  had 
found  himself  with  the  merest  pittance  on  which 
to  support  them.  With  a  small  sum  he  had 
embarked  for  Canada,  and  was  now  forming  a 
home  for  those  he  loved  so  well.  There  were 
numbers  of  men  in  similar  positions,  of  whom  he 
knew  in  the  neighborhood  and  in  different  parts 


^'1 


66 


The  Log  House; 


of  the  province —  not  all,  however,  doing  eqiuilTy 
well  —  so:ue  were  successful,  and  they  were  tho 
sober,  indusstrious,  and  judicious  ;  others  were  in 
a  bad  way,  mostly  for  the  beat  of  reasons,  be- 
cause they  were  idle,  and  had  taken  to  drinking, 
perhaps.  "  That  is  not  necessary  to  ruin  a  fel- 
low," said  D'Arcy.  "  I  know  several  of  the 
description  I  speak  of,  —  gentlemen  of  birth  and 
education.  There  -is  one  especially,  who,  prob- 
ably, begins  the  day  after  breakfast  by  smoking 
A  pipe  or  two,  then  takes  axe  or  spade  in  hand, 
aid  coming  in  to  an  early  dinner  feels  his  soli- 
tude, and  that  he  must  have  a  talk  with  some- 
body. Instead  of  continuing  his  work,  he  mounts 
his  cob,  after  taking  a  glass  or  two  of  rum  or 
whiskey  grog  —  the  more  out  of  spirits  he  feels 
the  stiffer  it  is  —  and  rides  off  to  some  neighbor, 
perhaps  his  equal,  or  perhaps  utterly  unfit  to  be 
Ills  companion,  as  far  as  social  intercourse  is  con- 
ccined.  On  the  way  he  looks  in  at  the  store- 
house  ;  he  has  an  account,  and  takes  a  glass  or 
two  more,  dusiiing  that  it  may  be  put  down  to 


(?/*,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


G7 


ig  eqiiaNy 

were  tlio 
s  were  in 
isons,  he- 
drinking-, 
lin  a  fel- 
i   of  the 
)irth  and 
o,  proh- 
smoking 
n  hand, 
lis  soli- 
1  some- 
mounts 
rum  or 
le  feels 
ighbor, 
to  be 

s  con- 

store- 

iiss  or 

wn   Lo 


him.     Of  course  he  never  recollects  how  many 
glasses  he  has  had,  nor  how  his  account  is  swell- 
iu'j^.     He  finds  his  friend,  brings  him  in   (prob- 
ably not  unwillingly)  from  his   work,  and   the 
two  spend  the  rest  of  the  day  together.     He  may 
find  his  way  home  at  night,  or  he  may  take  a 
shiike-down,  and,  rising  with  a  splitting  head- 
ache, finds  himself  utterly  unable  to  do  anything. 
He  is  going  to  the  bad  very  rapidly.     His  friends 
in  England  send  him   out   money   occasionally, 
under  the  belief  that  it  is  spent  on  the  farm,  but 
it  all  goes  to  pay  off  the  storekeeper's  account. 
Had  it  not  been  for  this  assistance  he  would  have 
knocked  up  long  ago.     As  it  is,  I  expect  he  has 
already  mortgaged  his  farm,  for  a  small  amount, 
may  be;  but  it's  a  beginning  —  a  second   will 
follow  —  it  is  so  easy  an  operation,  and  the  end 
.-^annot  be  far  off.     Now  poor  Jack  Mason  will 
go  back  to  England,  his  friends  helping  him,  and 
abuse  Canada,  and  say  that  it  is  a  country  totally 
unfit  for  a  gentleman  to  live  in  —  that  hardy, 
rou^h  fellows  may  subsist,  but  that  no  one  can 
do  more  —  no  one  can  make  a  fortune." 


68 


The  Log  House; 


"  A  man  must  have  energy,  talent,  and  perse- 
verance to  succeed  here,  as  well  as  at  home," 
said  Philip.  "  The  difference  is,  that  in  Eng- 
land, possessing  them,  he  may  not  succeed ; 
here,  possessing  them,  he  must  succeed.  To 
commence  the  life  of  a  backwoodsman,  he  must 
have  health  and  strength,  with  the  other  qualifi- 
cations you  have  mentioned.  Once  having  got 
a  footing  in  the  country,  he  must  watch  the  open- 
ings which  are  sure  to  present  themselves ;  the 
man  of  talent  will  take  advantage  of  them,  and 
rise  to  wealth  ;  the  man  without  talent  will  go 
on  slowly  improving  his  condition,  and  will  be 
happy  and  respected.  What  more  can  a  man 
desire  ?  '* 

"  I  agree  with  you,  Phil ;  at  the  same  time 
that  I  intend  to  look  out  for  the  openings,  and 
walk  in  if  I  can,'*  answered  D'Arcy.  "  When 
my  guardians  decided  that  I  was  to  emigrate,  or 
rather  that  they  could  do  nothing  for  me  at 
home,  they  liberally  gave  me  the  choice  of  Aus- 
tralia, New  Zealand,  the  Cape,  or  British   North 


Or ^* Adventures  in  Canada, 


69 


I  perse- 
home," 
n  Eiig- 
icceed ; 

d.  To 
e  miTst 
quidifi- 
ng  got 

i  open- 
s;  the 
n,  and 
ill  go 
ill  be 
man 

time 

and 

^hen 

e,  or 
e  at 
Aus- 
orth 


America.  I  have  an  idea  they  cared  very  little 
where  I  went,  so  that  I  went  away  and  gave 
them  no  further  trouble.  I  had  been  dining 
the  (lay  before,  at  Dublin,  at  the  mess  of  the  — 
KcLiJment,  which  had  just  returned  from  Canada, 
and  they  were  all  high  in  its  praise ;  —  such 
pleasant  quarters,  such  gayety,  such  sleighing, 
sliooting,  fishing,  boating.  Several  declared  that 
they  would  sell  out  and  settle  there.  Naturally 
I  chose  Canada,  without  weighing  its  advantages 
with  tliose  of  the  other  provinces;  and  though  I 
found  the  reality  of  a  settler's  life  very  different 
to  the  fancy  picture  I  luid  drawn,  having  made  up 
my  mind  to  go  througli  with  it,  and  have  great 
reason  to  be  thankful  tliat  I  did  so.  Still,  I  fan- 
cy that  people  can  make  fortunes  in  Australia 
much  faster  than  one  can  here." 

*'  May  be  so  ;  but  fortune  is  not  the  only  thing 
desirable,"  said  Philip.  "All  settlers  do  not 
make  fortunes  in  Australia, —  we  hear  only  of 
the  successful  ones ;  and  then  I  caunot  help 
thinking,  that  our   Canadian   climate,  with   its 


1  i 


70 


The  Log  House; 


wonderful  changes,  our  varied  scenery,  our  insti- 
tutions, and  our  society, —  I  don't  mean  in  such 
an  out-of-the-way  place  as  this,  but  such  as  are 
found  at  Toronto  and  else  where, — are  items  which 
may  be  placed  to  the  credit  of  this  Province,  and 
give  it  a  superiority  over  every  other.  I  have 
often  fancied  that  there  must  be  something  mo- 
notonous and  depressing  in  Australian  bush-life  ; 
the  very  uniformity  of  the  seasons  and  of  the  face 
of  the  country  must  produce  this  effect.  How- 
ever, old  fellow,  here  we  are ;  and  whether  the 
land  be  a  good,  bad,  or  indifferent  land  compared 
with  others,  you  and  I  have  made  up  our  minds 
to  make  the  best  of  it.  But  it  is  time  that  we 
were  off;  we  had  not  intended  remaining  so 
long." 

Philip  and  his  brothers  started  up.  "  You 
must  have  coffee  before  you  go ;  it  is  a  home 
manufacture,  and  so  are  all  the  ingredients.'* 
Terry  poured  it  out  of  a  veritable  big  coffee-pot 
— hot,  with  plenty  of  sugar  and  milk.  It  was 
pronounced  excellent.     **  See,   Harry,  you  and 


W 


f 


u,. 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


71 


•nr  insli- 
in   such 

as  are 
IS  wliich 
ice,  and 
I  have 
[ig  mo- 
sh-life  ; 
he  face 

How- 
ler  the 
ipared 
minds 
at  we 
ng  so 

^'You 
home 
nts." 
'e-i)ot 

was 

and 


Charley  may  supply  your  family  with  first-rate 
coffee,"  said  D'Arcy.  "  We  shall  have  a  thaw 
before  the  winter  sets  in  ;  dig  up  all  the  dande- 
lion roots  you  can  find  ;  dry  them  in  the  sun  or 
in  your  oven  for  keeping ;  roast  tliem  before  use  ; 
jiiid  cut  them  up  and  grind  them  as  you  would 
coffee-berries.  This  is  the  result.  By-the-by, 
Phil,"  he  added,  *'  you  told  me  that  you  had  not 
caught  any  fish  lately.  It  is  just  possible  that  a 
change  may  be  pleasant ;  and  if  you  don't  mind 
carrying  a  couple  each  of  you,  will  you  present 
tlieui  to  your  mothor  with  my  best  compliments  ? 
I  luive  got  them  slung  ready  for  you,  so  that  you 
have  only  to  throw  over  your  shoulders  as  you 
are  starting."  He  did  not  consider  that  even  a 
few  pounds  weight  makes  a  considerable  differ- 
ence to  a  skater.  Philip,  however,  did  not  like 
to  refuse  his  kind  offer,  knowing  that  it  gave  him 
pleasure  to  send  the  fish,  and  would  give  those  at 
home  [ileasure  to  receive  tliem.  Terry  accord- 
inL;ly  was  diiected  to  bring  out  the  fish,  which 
were  hard  frozen,  and  were  slung  with   ropes   of 


Mil' 


m 


72 


The  Log  House, 


grass,  and  packed  with  pads  of  grass  to   keep 
them  off  the  back. 

D'Arcy  assured  thera  that  the  cracking  sound 
they  liad  heard  was  no  sign  of  danger,  but,  on 
the  nonfroiy,  el:  vvcd  that  the  ice  had  taken  in 
every  part 


CHAPTER  VII. 

S  the  hut  was  close  to  the  lake  the  skates 
were  buckled  on  in  the  warmth,  and   to- 
gether  the    whole    party   issued   forth, 
D'Arcy  promising   to   come  across    the 
next  day  in  a  sleigh  he  had  built. 

During  the  brief  period  they  had  spent  in  the 
hut  the  wind  had  changed,  and  with  it  the 
weather.  Thick  clouds  floated  overhead  low 
down,  lightish  in  color  the  air  was  sensibly  warm- 
er. Philip  looking  at  his  younger  brother  said, 
"  Charley,  I  have  a  great  mind  to  leave  you  be- 
hind J  it  will  be  harder  work  than  coming."  But 

(73) 


74 


The  Log  Huuse; 


w 


yoy  e„n«Me.ec.  that  hU  „.a„.ine.3  was  dta 

I-.-,,  „..a  i„.si«te.,   on  atuHing.  .  w, 

may  rpnnh    h          1    n                   ^  ^>mi,    we 

"J'  xL.icii   Ijonie    befrup  fi. 

7.,                              i^eioie  the   snow  fill^  "       -i 

i^i..li,, «,,,,,.,  ^,^,.^                   J-  -"N      -M 

^'-"  ^e  g,Hd  to  see  you."  "''' " ''° 

■^Wiiy  tlicy   wont-  l,„f 

passed   be/o,  *''°  ""'""'''^  '""I 

I     seU   be/ore  snow-flalcea  bejfan   (o  /„„    ,  ,■ 

"■"y  «euli„g  o„    ti.eir  faces      T,  ' 

fomunners  of  others  .  t  ''"^   --«"'» 

'  ""'^  "'ey  rushed  dow„  I,,,,,,-,.,,,  '^ 

f'e  surface   of    the  lal-P  """"^' '"'^'«'-'"S 

Di.-    ,he   broth.       ,  "        '   "'"'^  ■•*'•--''• 

bi others    hoar  D'A  rev's   v.;       •  • 

^'■"''   'J--'y«  shouting  to  til    .  """■' 

I'iK^y  had,  however  .ot   o  """^'  ''"'  ' 

J^    oeen   certain  of  f ho  ^    ^ 

-"'d  not  have  l,ked  to  do  so     o     '"'  ''^^ 
events  went     Ph;,;     .  "'"^  "' '''" 

'1,  but  the  outline  soon  became  very  di,n 
Thicker  and   thicker  fell   tl,P  c 

-   the,r  proper  eour.e,   PhiHp    thou-ht 

C-  you  make  out   the  hill,  Harrv." 

-'-'•     "No,  Phil,   cannot  you-.    1  " 

/ou  r       answered 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


7r> 


as  dis- 
j11,    we 
said 
"  Wo 

s  luid 
a  few 
3   the 
tlioy 
eriiijr 

KJOt. 

iiu-'d 
k? 
J  at, 

all 

his 

in. 

ey 

It. 

3e 

»d 


■i- 


c 


li 


Il.'irry:  **  wliat's  to  be  done?"  **  Push  on,  of 
course,  the  snow  may  stop  fulling,  and  we  may 
Bce  our  way  agani,"  said  Philip. 

The  snow,  however,  did  not  stop  falling,  but 
rather  came  down  thicker  and  faster.  Charley 
held  out  bravely,  workhig  on  his  way  through 
the  snow.  Skating  was  far  greater  labor  than 
before.  Tliis  should  not  have  been  :  hard  snow 
would  have  easily  been  pushed  aside;  a  part  of 
this  melted  as  it  fell.  Philip  did  not  express  his 
his  fears  to  his  brothers,  though  he  became  very 
anxious.  "  What  can  we  do  ?  "  he  k'ept  saying 
to  himself.  "  We  must  keep  on  ;  we  may  hit 
our  home  or  some  parts  of  the  shore  which  we 
know,  and  liom  which  we  may  reach  it  either 
walking  overland,  or  by  coasting  along  on 
skates."  His  greatest  fear  was  approaching  the 
commencement  of  the  channel  or  river  whit 
communicated  with  Lake  Huron,  where,  as  the 
stream  was  rapid,  the  ice  probably  was  not 
iormed,  and  their  destruction  would  be  nearly 
inevitable.     The  dangerous  point  was    to   the 


7« 


Ml! 

"if 


HI 


The  Log  House: 


"■«'"  of   their  cou.,e  •   h«  \^.     c 

■■"^''-d  to  the  ieft.    .:,.;.   '""•^f"-  "»'"-„, 

«"id  Charley  at  ]en<.th    •  '"'  ""''  ""-■'•'^•" 

t'-ey  went  •  1       ^T'  '"  *  '''"^'"'  '""«•     0„ 

J' Tvtnt,  the  pace  became  slower  an.l    , 
"'«  youngest  brother  ken^  "-''' ' 

•' «-"r  I  think  Jellrrr""  "''"'•''• 
-    ^-^ate,'.    observed    Ch    r        '^^  """-" 

J"d.-ecl  rightly  that  skates  would  «•„  '^ 

"-^-     They   went  on -oT!!^"""^"""-"' 

«>'"ed  that  they  ou^ht  to   h      """     """'^    ''*■ 
•    ^-="  before   thl .     n   /"  ,^^^,  ^-"-'  ""- 

-  ^'^'  not  e.p,.ess  hi  Ct"  ^^  "^-^- 

to   keep   up   his   K    „  '  '' ^""^  ""I'onant 

y    "P   "IS    mothers'   si>iM>>,      ir    , 
•»'— strong  .i„j,,,„.^J^"'^-     «-'    there 

^-P  on  a  strai,ht  course  ;  He  """""'  " 
^-*.  and   the  snow    el  ""  "°'  ^ 

<^'-io„.s,   as  Harry    obsTved      :: /'•°'"    "''' 
«-k  of  geese  were  bein.  T\  "  ''   " 

The  flakes  were  .J         "'"  '''-'''''■■''^■" 

-%vei,.     Brave  ChaX^t:     -'"''"'' 
^'^  ^-  -  --g  very^tiS^  I:;"^; 


Or^  Adventures  in  Canada, 


77 


6ai>l  nothing  ;  but  he  could  not  help  uttering  low 
sij^iis  as  he  worked  on,  and  wishing  that  he  had 
n  pair  of  wings  to  lift  up  his  body.  No  one 
could  speak  except  about  their  hopes  or  fears. 

At  la 4  Charley  felt  that  his  knees  were  fail- 
in.?  under  him.  **  Oh,  Phil,  I  must  stop,"  he 
cried  out.  Philip  took  him  by  the  hand  and 
cheered  him  up.  **  Hold  out  a  little  longer, 
dear  Charley ;  we  must  be  near  the  shore,"  he 
cxelaiuied.  Charley  said  he  would  try,  and 
supported  on  each  hjind  by  his  brothers  went  on. 
lie  was  again  nearly  giving  in,  when  Philip 
cried  out,  "  Land  ahead!  —  land  ahead!  High 
land  with  tall  trees  close  down  to  the  lake. ' 
It  must  be  near  home." 

They  pushed  on  vigorously.  In  less  than  a 
minute  they  ran  up  against  a  rock ;  the  tall  trees 
changed  into  low  bushes,  and  the  high  land  into 
a  clump  of  trees  in  the  middle  of  a  small  island. 
Bitter  was  their  disappointment.  A  moment's 
consideration  made  Philip  and  Harry  certain 
that  it  was  an  island  they  had  visited  at  tLa 


•  !• 


5^"  I ' 


I    t 


!i 


lIlH  I 

I!    ' 


1 


78 


The  Log  Uou8e; 


southern   end   'J   f^e   j^k,         ^     , 

-••es  distant  both  ■;.;'. "'  '""^ »'  '•"" 

ootn  ticTT-.  their  own  and  D'AirvV 
"--""g."..     On  examining  the  bark  of  1 
-d  U^e  direction  in  .hieh  the,  bl  t  ' 

-vineed  that  the,  had  been  I'D,     ',"" 
they  had  lan^.  i  ™aicing  a  circle,  as 

bably  mode  mor.  .^  '       ^'  ^'''^  P^*«' 

J   "-ue  more  than  one  cirolp.  ;f  ^u 

off   acrain     K.  ^^''^'^^®-  ^^  they  started 

again,   how   could    they  gyhpo^   . 

i-he  respomibility  resting  on  Philin'.  ^     , , 

--ver,great..„ottbahe    e    I 

al-out  hi.  brothers  and  bi,nse  f  W  I'  "'""" 

that  the   dear  one^  at  h  ''"'  ^"^« 

oiiLo  at  home  wonlrl  k« 

•about  them.    Had  ^^  be.,     ,  "'""""' 

'""'"  on  the  inland  durmt.  th.     •  >  '" 

^'•"    "^'  ami   llie,  should   be 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


79 


'\^ 


al)le  to  see  their  way  across  to  the  main  shore. 
Ko  time,  however,  was  to  be  lost  to  prepare  for 
the  night  before  daylight  should  altogether 
depart.  Philip  was  too  good  a  backwoodsman 
to  have  left  home  without  his  axe  and  match- 
box. 

"  D'Arcy  little  thought  how  useful  his  fish 
would  prove  to  us,"  said  Philip,  as  he  looked 
about  for  the  best  spot  on  which  to  put  up  a 
shed.  *'  We  shall  not  starve ;  for  that  we  should 
be  thankful."  •*  And  look  here,  we  may  have  a 
plentiful  dessert,"  cried  Charley,  coming  up  with 
his  hands  full  of  brilliant  scarlet  berries  of  a  long 
ovid  form.  **  See,  I  know  these  are  good  to  eat ; 
S(ti)hy  was  preserving  them  two  days  ago,  and 
said  so."  The  berries  were  the  high-bush  cran- 
berries which  grow  on  a  shrub  about  the  height 
of  the  guelder  rose.  Charley  had  soon  collected 
many  more  than  he  and  his  brothers  could  pos- 
sildy  '.nit,  especially  as  they  had  no  sugar  to  eat 
them  with. 

*'('ome,  Charley,   as   you   are   able  to   move 


Hj 


'<! 


80 


The  Log  House; 


about,  set  to  work  and  collect  wood,  for  we  shall 
have  to  keep  up  a  blazing  fire  all  night,"  said 
IMiilip,  as  he  began  to  chop  away  at  some  small 
trees  to  form  the   posts  of  his  proposed  shed. 
Harry  meantime  was  getting  lighter  poles  and 
branches  to  form  a  roof.     The  spot  selected  by 
Philip  for  the  hut  was  in  a  sheltered  nook  under 
some  thickly-matted  cedars  which  would  greatly 
protect  it  from  the  snow.     The  materials  were 
soon  brought  together ;  and  so  expert  had  the 
brothers   become   in   all    handiwork,   that   they 
quickly  made  it  habital)le.     The  roof  they  cov- 
ered with  birch-bark,  picked  up  under  the  trees 
from  which  it  fell,  as  also  the  lower  part  of  the 
sides,  banking  them  up  with  snow.     Boughs  of 
spruce-fir  formed  no  contemptible  couches.     In 
a  very  short  time  they  had  built  a  tolerably  com- 
fortable hut.     Their  fiie  was  the  next  thing  to 
be  attended  to.     There  was  plenty  of  drift-wood 
just  above  the  ice,  and  dead  boughs  sufficient  to 
keep   up   a  blazing  fire  all  night :  it  was  soon 
lighted.     Two  of  the  fish  were  held  before  it 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


«1 


till  they  melted  sufficientl}'  to  allow  of  being 
cleaned ;  Philip  then  having  cut  some  forked 
sticks,  forced  them  into  the  ground  not  yet  frozen 
far  down,  and  with  a  slender  rod  spitted  the  fish, 
which  he  placed  on  the  forked  sticks  before  the 
fire.  "  I  wish  that  we  could  boil  them  Indian 
fashion,"  said  Harry  ,  *'  I  saw  an  old  squaw  per- 
form the  operation  the  other  day,  and  yet  she 
had  only  a  wooden  bucket.  She  got  a  heap  of 
stones  heated,  and  then  putting  some  cold  water 
into  her  bucket,  she  dropped  in  her  fish  and 
began  filling  up  the  bucket  with  the  hot  stones ; 
tlie  water  bubbled  and  hissed,  and  the  fish  were 
soon  cooked." 

Their  own  fish  did  not  take  long  roasting. 
They  were  pronounced  excellent,  especially  sea- 
soned with  cranberries.  **  I  say,  this  is  no  bad 
fun  after  all,"  exclaimed  Charley,  who  soon  re- 
covered from  his  fatigue.  ''If  it  wasn't  for  those 
at  home  I  wouldn't  have  missed  it  on  any  ac- 
count.'* 

*'  I  begin  to  hope  that  they  will  not  be  break- 


I 


111 
I 
k 


82 


The  Log  House  ; 


iri'^'  llieir  hearts  a1»out  us,"  said  Harry  ;  "  fliey 
must  have  scon  the  snow-storm  comintjf  on,  and 
will  think  that  we  remained  with  D'Arcj." 
Pliilip  hoped  the  same,  and  enjoyed  the  adven- 
ture nearly  as  much  as  his  brothers.  Supper 
over  and  the  fire  made  up,  he  told  them  both  to 
lie  down  while  he  kept  up  the  fire  and  watched 
for  anv  cliansi'e  in  the  weather.  Still  the  snow 
continued  to  fall  —  not  a  break  in  the  dense  mass 
of  clouds  overhead  aj)pcared.  Pliilip  sat  with 
his  feet  close  to  the  fire,  and  his  back  restinu^ 
a^^ainst  tlie  side  of  the  hut.  It  Y/as  necossnry  to 
be  very  watchful  to  prevent  the  flames  catchinijf 
the  brandies  on  which  his  brothers  lay.  He  had 
partially  closed  the  entrance  with  boughs,  but  an 
aperture  was  required  to  let  out  the  smoke,  and 
he  also  had  frequently  to  go  out  and  get  more 
fuel,  and  to  watch  for  the  snow  ceasin'jj.  Harry 
an<l  Charley  quickly  tell  asleep.  Philip  felt  very 
much  inclined  to  do  the  same  ;  he  tried  all  soris 
of  expedients  to  keep  awake.  The  hut  was  not 
lilgh  enough  or  large  enough  to  emihle  hiui  to 


J', 


tV-i 


"  Dash  burning  sticks  in  the  fellow's  face, 
while  I  tackle  him  with  my  axe,"  cried  Phillip. 
Page  83. 


^l| 


■■III  iiwro  Mill 


U' 


I 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


88 


walk  about.  He  would  have  gone  out,  but  the 
fire  absolutely  required  his  attendance  ;  he  did 
grt  up,  and  stood  on  one  leg,  then  on  the  other, 
till  he  got  tired,  so  he  set  himself  down  again 
I  111  raked  and  stirred  the  fire  as  before.  There 
was  no  warmth  in  the  hut.  At  last  his  hand 
stopped,  and  all  was  silent ;  if  he  was  not  asleep 
he  was  very  nearly  so.  Suddenly  he  was  aware 
that  there  was  something  moving  in  or  near  the 
hut.  He  looked  up,  and  just  at  the  vjii trance  he 
saw  a  huge  brown  monster,  his  e;yes  looking 
curiously  in,  while  with  its  paws  it  had  al)- 
fiiracted  one  of  the  fish  which  had  been  hung  up 
to  the  door-post  to  keep  cool.  The  stick  which 
Piiiiip  had  used  as  a  poker  was  in  a  flame,  so, 
springing  up,  he  dashed  it  into  the  face  of  the 
intruder  —  a  big  bear  —  grasping  his  axe  ready 
for  action  should  the  bear  retaliate.  Bruin  gave 
a  loud  and  angry  howl  at  the  unexpected  attack, 
dropping  his  booty  and  preparing  for  action. 
The  noise  awoke  Harry  and  Charley,  who  sprang 
to  their  feet.     "  Dash  burning  sticks  in  the  fel- 


H 


u 


N 


84 


The  Log  Ilouae  ; 


low's  face,  while  I  taclde  him  with  my  axo," 
cried  Philip.  It  was  fortunate  that  he  was  not 
alone.  He  gave  one  cut  at  Bruin's  paws,  but 
the  next  instant  the  monster  would  have  seizc'd 
the  axe  and  hugged  Philip,  had  not  Harry  dashed 
a  stick  into  his  eyes,  the  pain  of  which  made  him 
spring  on  one  side  and  tumble  over  on  his  buck. 
Charley  followed  up  the  attack  with  another  fire- 
brand, and  Philip  with  his  axe  dealt  him  a  blow 
on  the  side  of  the  head  which  almost  stunned 
him.  Another  such  blow  would  have  finished 
the  career  of  Bruin,  but  as  Philip  was  lifting  his 
weapon  Harry  cri  1  out,  *'0h  dear,  dear,  the  hut 
is  on  are ! "  Philip,  on  this,  for  a  moment 
turned  his  head,  and  the  bear  rolling  round  got 
up  on  his  feet,  and  scrambleti  away  over  the  snow 
as  fast  as  he  could  move.  Philip,  instead  of  pur- 
suing him,  had  to  attend  to  the  burning  hut ; 
and,  what  was  of  still  greater  importance,  to 
rescue  the  fish,  which  would  have  been  not  only 
cooked,  but  over-cooked  before  they  were  wanted. 
Charley  had,  however,  thoughtfully  seized  them, 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


85 


so  that  Philip  and  Harry  could  attend  to  the 
hut.  lu  vain  did  they  pull  out  the  part  which 
was  already  blazing,  the  wood  of  the  larger  por- 
tion was  so  dry  that  it  also  caught  fire,  and  it 
was  soon  evident  that  they  had  no  chance  of 
saving  their  mansion.  "  What  a  misfortune  I  " 
said  Harry.  "  I  will  not  say  that,"  observed 
Philip.  "  If  the  bear  had  not  awoke  me  we 
might  have  been  burnt  ourselves  ;  besides,  it  has 
just  struck  me,  that  this  blaze,  which  is  larger 
than  we  should  have  ventured  to  kindle,  may  be 
seen  by  those  at  home,  or  by  D'Arcy,  and  it  will 
give  them  some  assurance  of  our  safety.  How- 
ever, let  us  set  to  work  to  repair  damages  while 
the  flame  lasts,  for  if  we  once  get  chilled,  it  will 
not  be  so  easy  to  warm  up  again." 

The  fire  afforded  light  enough  to  enable  the 
three  brothers  to  cut  down  a  fresh  supply  of 
poles  and  boughs ;  and,  well-accustomed  to  the 
sort  of  work,  they  soi>u  again  had  a  hut  raised 
of  sufficient  size  to  afford  them  all  shelter.  The 
younger  brothers  were,  however,  not  inciijied  to 


I 


f  I 


86 


T%e  Lo(/  House; 


Bleep,  but  they  entreated  Philip  to  rest,  which  he 
promised  to  do  if  they  would  undertake  to  keep 
awake.  At  present  there  seemed  no  chance  of 
their  getting  away.  As  soon  as  Philip  had  lain 
down,  Harry  and  Charley  armed  themselves  with 
long  burning  sticks  with  which  to  receive  the 
bear  should  he  return,  taking  care  to  hang  their 
fish  up  inside,  out  of  his  way.  He  was,  how- 
ever, not  likely  to  come  back  again,  after  the 
warm  reception  he  had  received. 

"  I  thought  bears  always  shut  themselves  up 
in  winter,  and  lived  by  sucking  their  paws,"  ob- 
served Charley.  **  As  to  sucking  their  paws,  I 
don't  know,"  said  Harry  ;  "  but  1  fancy  that  the 
brown  bear  of  this  part  of  the  world  shuts  him- 
self up  for  the  greater  part  of  the  winter,  and 
only  occasionally  comes  out  on  a  mild  day  to 
forage  for  food.  I  conclude  that  our  friend  had 
his  nest  somewhere  near  and  v/as  disturbed  by 
the  fire,  and  his  olfactories  excited  by  the  smell 
of  the  broiled  fish.  I  wish  that  we  had  caught 
him,  we  might  have  taken  home  something  worth 


Or,  Adventurea  in  Canada, 


87 


liavin":^."  **  Do  you  think  tliat  he  has  left  tlje 
island?"  aiiked  Cl)ailc3%  '*  Couldn't  we  hunt 
him  up  ?  "  *'  Without  consulting  Philip  !  and  I 
slu»uld  not  like  to  awake  him,"  said  Harry, 
"  IJut,  I  will  tell  you  what ;  we  will  make 
Bonie  spears  in  the  meantime,  and  harden  their 
points  in  the  fire,  and  if  we  can  find  him  we'll 
tiike  him,  dead  or  alive." 

There  were  some  tough  young  saplings  grow- 
ing just  outside,  of  siiffiuienL  length  for  the  pro- 
posed object ;  three  o^  these  were  quickly  cut, 
and  being  pointed  were  hardened  in  the  fire,  and 
then  again  scraped,  till  they  became  rather  for- 
midable weapons.  "  Don't  you  think  Phil  has 
slept  long  enough  ? "  said  Charley,  who  was 
anxious  to  make  trial  of  his  spear.  "  I  am  afraid 
Master  Bruin  will  be  sneaking  off,  and  lea\ing 
us  to  whistle  for  him."  *'  Very  uncivil  not  to 
stop  and  be  killed,"  said  Harry  ;  "  but  we  need 
be  in  no  hurry  ;  if  he  didn't  go  off  at  first  he  is 
safe  enough  somewhere  near  here,  depend  on  it." 

The  snow  continued  to  fall,  but  it  could  not 


^, 


m 


m 


/a 


/ 


o^ 


■em  J>i  ? 


y 


//a 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


ISO 


1^  ^ 


.^     ...       1^ 


I.I 


lb 

u. 


1.8 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


// 


<.^.^*$^ 


%^  4l 


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V.A 


a 

'^  V'- -6 

^ 

6" 

^ 

23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


nrr 


88 


The  Log  House  % 


have  fallen  so  thickly  as  at  first,  or  it  would 
have  covered  the  ground  with  a  thicker  coat 
than  it  appeared  to  liuve  done.  Daylight  dawnud 
at  last,  and  Philip  woke  up.  He  was  amused 
by  the  preparations  for  a  combat  made  by  his 
brothers,  for  he  did  not  believe  that  the  bear 
would  be  found.  Before  going  out  all  three 
knelt  down  and  offered  up  their  prayers  and 
thanksgiving  for  the  protection  afforded  them. 
Under  no  circumstances  did  they  ever  omit  that 
duty.  Philip  then  advised  that  they  should  take 
some  breakfast,  that  they  might  be  ready  fur 
any  emergency.  Another  fish  was  accordingly 
cooked,  of  which  Charley,  in  spite  of  his  eager- 
ness, was  ready  enough  to  partake.  He  was 
hoping  all  the  time  that  Bruin  would  smell  the 
savory  meal,  and  would  be  tempted  to  return. 
Probably,  however,  he  had  already  had  quite 
enough  of  their  company  and  mode  of  proceed- 
ing to  wish  again  to  encounter  them. 

It  snowed  still,  but  not  the  dry,  hard  snow  oF 
the  previous  evening,  and  Philip  felt  more  than 


: 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


89 


ever  anxious  on  account  of  the  warmth  of  the 
weatlier.  Before  the  sun  could  have  quite  risen, 
rain  came,  mixed  with  snow,  and  gradually  there 
was  more  rain  and  less  snow,  till  the  rain  came 
down  so  fast  that  they  were  glad  to  get  into  their 
hut  for  shelter.  They  well  knew  that  nothing 
so  rapidly  causes  ice  to  become  rotten  as  does 
rain.  They  might  be  prisoners,  therefore,  till  it 
had  sufficiently  melted  to  allow  of  a  boat  being 
pu.shed  through  it.  **But  it  cannot  be  rotten 
yet,"  said  Harry.  "Let  us  look  out  for  the 
shore,  and,  if  we  can  see  it,  push  across  to  the 
nearest  point ;  never  mind  the  rain."  "Agreed." 
They  crept  out  of  their  hut,  anil  worked  their 
way  to  the  shore  of  the  little  island.  The  land 
round  them  across  the  water  was  very  faint ; 
still,  as  they  fancied  that  they  could  distinguish 
their  own  home,  and  D'Arcy's  clearing,  and  the 
settlement,  they  determined  to  try  to  reach  one 
or  the  other.  The  settlement  was  the  nearest, 
and  if  they  reached  that  they  might  easily  find 
their   way  home.     There  was  a   nominal  road, 


If 


90 


The  Log  House; 


h.    ■ 


though  scarcely  passable,  except  when  covered 
wiih  snow  in  winter.  They  were  debatini^ 
whether  it  would  be  better  to  attempt  to  skate  or 
to  walk  across  the  ice.  "  We  can  but  pull  our 
skates  off  if  we  do  not  make  good  progress,'* 
said  Philip;  so  they  were  sitting  down  to  put 
them  on  when  Charley  exclaimed  that  he  must 
have  a  look  for  the  bear;  if  he  was  there  he 
would  find  him  out.  Off  he  ran  with  his  spear. 
He  had  not  been  absent  half  a  minute  when  ho 
came  running  back,  crying  out,  **  Here  he  is, 
Bure  enough,  for  he  does  not  seem  inclined  to 
move.  I  suspect  the  tap  you  gave  him,  Phil, 
with  your  axe,  hurt  him  more  than  v/e  fancied." 
The  latter  remarks  were  uttered  as  the  three 
brothers,  with  their  spears  ready  for  action,  hur- 
ried towards  the  spot  Charley  had  indicated. 
There,  indeed,  Wds  a  brown  heap,  from  out  of 
which  a  set  of  sharp  teeth  and  a  pair  of  twink- 
ling eyes  appeared.  "  There,  what  do  you  think 
of  that  ?  "  asked  Charley.  The  bear  lay  in  a 
sort  of  root-formed  cavern,  under  the  bank.  Som« 


Or^  Adventurer  in  Canada, 


91 


r*i' 


Biiow  had  drifted  into  it,  which  had  been  pro- 
tected from  the  rain ;  on  the  snow  were  wide 
stains  of  blood.  His  wound  would  certainly 
make  the  bear  more  savage,  and  might  not  have 
much  weakened  him.  Still,  forgetting  the  risk 
they  were  running,  they  all  three  made  a  rush  at 
liim  with  their  spears.  He  attempted  to  get  up, 
seizing  Charley's  spear  from  his  grasp,  and  biting 
furiously  at  it,  but  Philip's  and  Harry's  pinned 
him  to  the  bank.  Still  his  strength  was  great, 
and  jt  was  not  till  Philip  was  able  to  get  a  blow 
at  his  head  with  his  axe  that  his  struggles 
ceased. 

"  Hurrah,  hurrah  !  now  we  may  live  here  for  a 
week,  like  Robinson  Crusoe,"  shouted  Charley, 
highly  delighted  with  their  success.  "  And  leave 
those  at  home  to  believe  that  we  are  lost,"  said 
Philip.  "No,  no,  I  don't  mean  that;  only  if 
we  were  obliged  to  stop  we  might  contrive  to  be 
very  jolly,"  said  Charley.  They  had  no  little 
trouble  in  dragging  the  bear  up  the  bank,  and  it 
then  b^ijcame  a  question  what  they  si  ould  do  with 


■( 


,.^' 


92 


II! 

It;  >). 


!il 


i!:' 


"■      I 


11^^^ 


1? 


1 


The  Log  House; 


him.  They  could  not  carry  him  away,  that  was 
very  certain  Cutting  him  up  was  not  a  pleas- 
ant operation,  yet  they  could  not  hang  him  up 
whole.  "We  will  secure  his  tongue,  and  we 
must  come  back  for  him  as  soon  as  we  can,"  said 
Phil.  They  had  been  so  busy  that  they  had  not 
observed  that  the  rain  had  ceased,  and  that  in- 
stead of  it  a  thick  fog  had  sprung  up  again,  com- 
pletely obscuring  the  shores.  It  was  so  warm 
that  there  could  be  no  doubt  that  the  ice  must  be 
rapidly  melting.  Had  this  happened  at  the  jcnd 
of  winter  it  would  not  have  signified,  as  it  would 
have  required  many  days  then  to  weaken  the  ice 
materially.  Still,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  fog 
they  could  have  pushed  across  without  fear  at 
once. 

"  Why  did  we  come  without  a  compass  ? " 
cried  Philip,  not  for  the  first  time.  "  Rememher, 
you  fellows,  never  to  leave  home  without  one. 
You  do  not  know  when  you  may  require  it  in 
this  country."  After  sitting  down  on  the  bank 
for  some   time,   Philip  started   up,   exclaimuig, 


Ot'y  Adventures  in  Canada, 


98 


*'  They  will  be  breaking  their  hearts  abt)iit  us. 
I  must  go.  You  two  have  plenty  of  food,  and  if 
you  will  promise  me  that  you  will  not  stir  irnii 
the  island  till  a  boat  comes  for  you,  or  till  the 
weather  clears  and  the  ice  hardens  thoroughly,  I 
will  go  across  to  the  settlement;  and  send  on 
home  overland.  I  know  that  I  can  hit  it,  as 
there  is  a  breeze  blowing,  and  I  took  the  bear- 
ings before  the  rain  came  on.  Harry  and  Char- 
ley were  very  unwilling  to  let  their  brother  go, 
but  at  length,  when  he  had  persuaded  them  that 
there  was  no  danger  to  himself,  they  agreed  to 
obev  his  wishes. 

Having  disencumbered  himself  of  his  axe  and 
an  overcoat,  as  well  as  of  the  remainder  of 
D'Arcy's  fish,  which  he  left  for  his  brothers, 
Philip  buckled  on  his  skates,  and  taking  one  of 
the  spears  in  his  hand,  away  he  glided  ;  his 
brothers,  standing  on  the  shore,  watched  him  — 
his  figure  growing  less  and  less  distinct,  till  ho 
disappeared  in  the  thick  mist  which  hung  over 
the  lake.     **  I  wish  that  we  iiad  not  let  him  go," 


m 


'^•■*" 


iT^ 


94 


The  Log  Houu; 


cried  Cbarloy,     "  Suppose  any   accident  shouM 
Jijippen  to  him,  how  dreadiul.     Couldn't  we  call 
him  back  ?     He  would  hear  us  if  we   shouted.'* 
"  No,  that  would  annoy  him,  as  we  have  no  rea- 
Bon  lor  calling  him  bfick.     We  must  let  him  go," 
said  Harry.     **  Well,  at  all  events,  we  can   pray 
for  him,"  exclaimed  Charley,  in   a   tone  which 
showed  that  the  thought  was  consolatory.     Tliey 
did  so  immediately,  and   felt   far  greater   confi- 
dence than  before.     For  themselves,  they  hud  no 
cause  to  fear.     They  had   food    enough    for   a 
month  or  more,  should  the  frost  return,  and  they 
had  the  means  of  building  a  hut,  in   which   they 
could  be  perfectly  sheltered  from    the   weather. 
They  had  abundance  of  fuel,  and  the  bear's  skin  '*' 
would  keep  them  warm  at  night.      There   were 
the  cranberries,  and  probably  some  other  berries, 
and  they  knew  of  several  roots  which  they  thoug'.it 
they  should  find.     **  Really,  we  are  very  well  off," 
Baid  Charley,  after  thgy  had  reviewed    their   re- 
sources.    "  I  don't  think  there  is  another  part  of 
the  world  where,  in  a  little  island  like  this,   we 


L 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


9,3 


•i  ^> 


could  find  such  ample  means  of  support.  I 
shouldn't  mind  spending  a  month  here  at  all." 

*'  Ah !  but  we  could  not  expect  always  to 
find  a  bear  in  such  a  place  as  this ;  and  as  'or 
the  fish,  we  brought  them  with  us,"  said  Harry, 
by  way  of  argument.  "But  I  dare  say,  if  we 
were  to  hunt  about,  we  should  find  some  racoons  ; 
and  if  the  ice  melted  we  should  catch  plenty  of 
fish  —  or  we  might  make  a  hole  in  the  ice  and 
fish  through  it,"  argued  Charley.  "  By-the-by, 
I  have  got  some  hooks  and  a  line  in  my  pocket  ; 
I  vote  we  try." 

No  sooner  was  the  proposal  made  than  exe- 
cuted ;  two  fishing  lines  were  fitted  —  with  their 
spears  a  hole  was  made  in  the  easily  yielding  ice 
—  the  bear  furnished  bait.  Scarcely  was  a  line 
in  than  a  tug  was  felt,  and  a  small  fish  was 
haided  up.  They  did  not  know  the  name,  but 
as  its  appearance  was  prepossessing,  they  had  no 
doubt  that  it  was  fit  for  food.  Another  and 
another  followed  ;  they  were  delighted  with 
their  sport,  and  even  Harry  felt  that  he  should 


< 


t» 


96 


The  Log  House, 


be  sorry  to  have  to  go  away.  "If  we  had  but 
some  bread  and  some  tea,  with  a  pot  to  boil  it  in, 
we  should  do  capitally,"  he  observed.  *'  We 
may  dig  dandelion  roots  for  coffee,  we  can  boil 
water  with  hot  stone  in  a  wooden  jug,  which  we 
can  make,  and  there  are  roots  which  will  serve  us 
for  bread,"  said  Charley.  *'  If  we  could  but  get 
a  few  heads  of  Indian  corn,  we  might  thrive  just 
as  we  are."  "  We  might  live,  certainly,"  said 
Harry  ;  "  but  I  doubt  if  we  could  do  more." 


I 


V 


lad  l)ufc 
oil  it  in, 
"  We 
fin  boil 
ich  we 
lerve  us 
3ut  get 
ive  just 
"  said 


). 


it 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

E  must  follow  Philip  in  his  perilous  ad- 
venture.    He  felt  more   doubtful  as  to 
?JX^    the  strength  of  the  ice  than  he  had  ex- 
pressed ;  but  should   it  break  beneath 
him,  he  relied  on  his  long  pole  to  extricate  him- 
self.    He  looked  back  every  now  and  then,  and 
he  appeared  to  be  taking  a  straight  course ;  he 
felt  the   breeze   also   always  on  his  left  cheek. 
Tins  inspirited  him,  though  he  could  not  see  the 
shore.     The  snow  was  yielding  enough,  though 
rather  clogging   about  his  heels ;  the  fog,  how- 
ever, grew  thicker  than  ever ;  it  was  evidently 
the  fog  caused  by  a  warm  thaw.     He  had  seen 
?  (97) 


'f 


mm 


( I 


f 


98 


The  Log  Uoune  ; 


many  such  in  Eni^'^ljind.  lie;  piisliod  on  holdly 
—  raster  tliiin  lio  liiui  gone  with  his  hrollicrs  — 
1m)  wjirt  lij^litly  'iliid  and  curried  no  woii^ht.  Did 
1m!  hear  soMiiifs  coiniijg  from  the  slioie  —  slci^h- 
ht'lls  —  or  shc'op-lx'lls  —  men's  voices  also  ?  If  so, 
Ik;  was  j)r()l)al>ly  n(!ar  the  scitUMncnt.  lie  was 
tryioL,'  to  pi(;rce  the  mist,  when  su(hlciily  he  Iclt 
liis  liM't  sinkiiif;  under  liinx,  and  hel'ore  he  could 
sprinj^  l)iicU,  he  was  sent  j^lidint^  down  a  slab  of 
ice,  and  plurr^ed  in  tlie  water.  For  several  yards 
bcloie  him  there  was  not]iin<^  but  water.  Hohl- 
iiiLj  his  })()le  he  swam  on.  He  reached  the  edge 
of  the  ice:  it  broke  as  he  clutched  it.  It  is  a 
difficult  operation  to  get  out  of  water  on  to  a 
slab  of  ice.  lie  lound  it  so.  If  he  got  one  end 
of  the  pole  on  the  ice  the  other  slipped  oif.  IIo 
saw  tlie  danger  of  exhausting  his  strength  by 
useless  struggles.  He  had  heard  voices.  IIo 
miiiht  make  himself  heard,  so  he  shouted  — ■ 
*'  Help  !  help  !  the  ice  has  broken  in  — help  !  " 

It  was  a  sad  fate  which  seemed  about  to  over- 
whelm him.     Life  had  many  charms  in  spite  of 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


iii) 


the  one  disappoint m(mt,  wliich  had  rather  ^dvcn 
a  gravity  to  his  iiianiier  tlian  in  any  way  cinltit- 
teicd  his  existence.  lie  had  hoped  to  do  Honie- 
thin;^^  in  the  woild  —  his  duty,  at  all  events. 
lie  had  many,  too,  dependinj,^  on  him.  lluw 
would  they  bear  his  loss  ?  He  looked  upward. 
A  thick  veil  hunj^  over  his  liead.  Below  was  the 
daik  water  —  on  every  side  the  wide  expanse  of 
treacherous  ice  and  snow.  Ilis  lind)s  were 
getting  chilled  ;  still  he  would  struggle  on  while 
consciousness  was  allowed  him.  Had  the  hole 
been  smaller  into  which  he  had  fallen,  he  might 
have  got  his  pole  across  it.  It  was,  however,  of 
much  assistance,  as  holding  on  to  it,  he  could 
rest  without  breaking  the  edge  of  the  ice.  He 
was  certain  that  he  heard  sleigh-bells.  He 
shouted  louder  than  before.  The  bells  ceased. 
He  insti.ntly  shouted  again.  A  voice  replied, 
"  We'll  be  with  you  directly,  friend.  His  heart 
leaped  within  him.  The  voices  sounded  louder. 
He  discerned  objects  dimly  moving  over  the  ice, 
here  and  there.     They  must  be  looking  for  him. 


m 


I- 1 


100 


The  Log  House  ; 


■  hi 


I 


m_ 


".4  , 


r 


I 


He  shouted  again.  They  resolved  tliemselvca 
into  the  forms  of  two  men.  They  approiiclie<l 
him.  One  had  a  rope  m  his  hand.  "  Lay  hold 
of  this,  we'll  soon  have  yt)u  out,"  said  the  man. 
Philip  passed  the  rope  round  his  pole,  and  then 
grasped  it  tightly.  With  care  he  was  dragged 
out.  The  other  person  stood  at  a  distance. 
"  We  must  not  put  more  weight  than  we  can  on 
this  treacherous  stuff,"  he  said.  "  Why,  1  do 
believe  that  you  are  young  Ashton.** 

*'  The  same :  and  you  Mr.  Norman,"  cried 
Philip.  "  I  am  indeed  thankful  for  your  timely 
aid." 

"  Which  my  man  rendered,  and  not  I ;  and 
which  he  would  have  rendered  to  a  drowning 
dog,  so  don't  say  anything  about  that,"  replied 
Mr.  Norman.  "  But  we  must  not  stop  talking 
here.  The  sooner  we  are  on  terra  firma,  and 
you  in  a  warm  bed,  the  better." 

Philip  found,  on  reaching  the  shore,  that  he 
was  fully  half  a  mile  north  of  the  settlement. 
Mr.  Norman,  who  was  on  his  way  to  pay  his 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


101 


family  a  visit,  was  passing  in  his  aleigh  at  the 
moment.  "I  hoped  that  the  snow  would  remain 
long  enough  to  enable  me  to  get  up  to  you,  for 
your  road  scarcely  allows  of  a  wheeled  convey- 
ance," he  observed,  as  they  drove  rapidly  back 
to  the  settlement,  Philip  sitting  covered  up  with 
furs  at  the  bottom  of  the  sleigh.  A  wuim  bed 
was,  however,  not  a  luxury  to  be  found  at  the 
settlement;  indeed,  Philip  assured  his  friend, 
that  if  he  could  obtain  a  change  of  clothes,  he 
would  much  rather  set  off  at  once  to  rescue  his 
brothers.  "  Not  till  you  are  more  fit  to  go  than 
at  piesent,'*  said  Mr.  Norman.  "  My  friend 
Job  Judson,  at  the  hotel,  will  help  us  ;  and 
while  you  are  drying  outwardly,  and  warming 
inwardly,  we  will  get  a  boat  or  canoe  of  some 
sort  to  shove  over  across  the  ice  to  bring  away 
the  youngsters.  They  are  happy  enough  in  the 
meantime,  depend  on  that;  I  have  had  many 
such  an  adventure  in  my  younger  daj's,  greatly 
to  my  enjoyment.'* 

In  a  few  minutes  Philip  was  sitting  wrapped 


102 


The  Log  House; 


.1  *: 


■f    t   1  •  ! 


ifl    !;- 


ill  j. 


II,"  % 

iil 


up  in  a  sheet  and  blanket  betore  the  almost 
red-liot  stove  of  the  log  hut,  ycleped  an  hotel, 
while  Mr.  Job  Judson  was  administering  a 
bowl  of  strong  ginger  tea,  the  effect  of  which 
was  to  throw  him  into  a  glow  and  to  send  him 
fust  asleep.  Meantime  his  clothes,  hung  up 
round  the  stove,  were  drjang  rapidly  ;  and  w  hen 
the  landlord  at  last  aroused  him  to  put  them  on, 
he  found  that  they  were,  as  he  said,  as  warm  us 
a  toast ;  indeed  they  were,  he  had  reason  to 
suspect,  rather  overdone.  He  found  Mr.  Nor- 
man with  a  large  dug-out  canoe  on  runners, 
with  a  couple  of  poles,  one  on  each  side,  and 
two  men  who  had  volunteered  to  accompany 
him.  "  I'd  go  myself,  but  I  guess  I'd  rather 
over-ballast  your  craft,"  said  Job  Judson,  turning 
round  his  rotund  figure,  such  as  was  not  often 
seen  in  the  bush.  Philip  thanked  him,  and 
agreed  that  no  more  persons  were  required  for 
the  expedition.  Mr.  Norman  insisted  on  going. 
*'  Do  not  be  afraid  of  my  being  tired,''  ho 
remarked  ;  "  I  have  always  lived  in  so  Lardy  a 
wav  tluit  notliinir  tires  me.'* 


■'ii 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


103 


up 


Philip  was  not  aware  that  more  than  three 
hours  had  passed  since  he  reached  the  settle- 
ment. The  fog  was  still  as  thick  as  ever.  The 
two  men  dragged  on  the  canoe ;  Mr.  Norman 
pushed  astern,  and  placing  a  compass  down  on 
the  seat  before  him,  observed,  "  It  is  necessary 
to  take  our  departure  very  carefully,  or  we  shall 
find  it  more  difficult  to  hit  the  island  than  you 
did  on  leaving  it  to  reach  the  shore.  I  do  not 
suppose  that  there  is  a  person  in  the  settlement 
can  give  us  the  bearings  of  the  island  from 
this."  "  No ;  but  the  map  of  the  Geological 
Survey  will,"  said  the  gentleman  who  kept  the 
store  in  the  settlement.  In  another  instant  he 
brought  out  a  large  map,  where  the  island  was 
clearly  laid  down.  "  All  right,  thank  you," 
said  Mr.  Norman :  "  away  we  go."  The  two 
men  laid  hold  of  the  fore-end  of  the  poles ; 
Philip  and  Mr.  Norman  behind.  The  ice  was 
far  from  secure  ;  it  did  not  crack  nor  bend,  but 
it  evidently  rested  on  the  water,  and  such  ice 
generally   gives   way    without  any   warning  or 


104 


The  Log  House; 


1  ■  M 


.:  I  ^ 


if;: 


sound.  The  party,  however,  pushed  dauntlessly 
on,  steadily,  but  not  so  fast  as  Philip  would  have 
liked.  He  thought,  indeed,  at  last,  that  they 
must  have  passed  the  island ;  but  Mr.  Norman 
was  too  good  a  navigator  for  that  —  it  rose  up 
suddenly  before  them. 

Philip  shouted,  *' Harry  —  Charley — all  right, 
boys  —  hurrah !  '*  but  there  was  no  answer. 
Again  he  cried  out ;  no  one  replied.  "  They  are 
hiding  to  try  and  frighten  me,  Mr.  Norman,"  he 
said,  laughing,  — "  the  rogues."  The  party 
landed  and  looked  about.  "  Oh,  very  well,  they 
cannot  be  here,  and  so  we'll  go  away,"  he  cried 
out,  thinking  that  would  make  them  appear ;  it 
had  no  such  effect.  Philip  began  to  grow 
anxious;  they  would  certainly  not  carry  their 
joke  so  far.  He  went  round  the  island,  some- 
times on  the  ice  and  sometimes  on  the  shore. 
As  he  was  hurrying  on,  what  was  his  dismay  to 
see  a  large  hole  in  the  ice :  his  poor  young 
brothers  had  met  the  fate  which  lie  had  so 
narrowly  escaped.     He  saw  exactly  how  it  iiad 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


105 


li 


happened  ;  one  had  gone  through,  and  the  other 
in  trying  to  help  him  out  had  fallen  in  likewise. 
There  had  been  a  struggle,  as  there  were  prints 
of  feet  and  knees  in  the  snow  round  it ;  some 
the  water  had  washed  over. 

His  exclamations  of  grief  brought  his  compan- 
ions to  the  spot.  **  Not  so  certain  that  anything 
dreadful  has  occurred,"  said  Mr.  Norman.  '*  You 
told  me  you  had  killed  a  bear ;  now  Bruin  has 
been  deprived  of  his  hinder  legs,  which  make  the 
best  hams  ;  and  his  four  paws,  which  turn  into 
good  soup  ;  and  I  don't  think  that  they  would 
have  walked  off  by  themselves.  Come,  let  us  ex- 
amine your  hut.  Ah !  the  skin,  too,  has  disap- 
peared." "  Yes,  and  I  see  that  the  remainder  of 
the  fish  which  D'Arcy  gave  us  are  not  here," 
said  Philip,  somewhat  relieved.  ''  But  perhaps 
the  island  has  been  visited  by  some  trapper,  who 
would  naturally  carry  off  the  most  valuable  parts 
of  the  bear."  *'  Ah  I  but  look  here :  if  the  is- 
land had  been  visited  by  a  trapper,  he  came  with 
a  vehicle  on  runners  from  the  direction  of  your 


I 


106 


The  Log  House; 


I    ^      'A 


clearing,  and  returned  to  the  same  place.  There 
are  the  marks  clear  enough  still ;  an  Indian 
would  have  told  us  exactly  hpw  things  occurred." 
"  I  wish  that  we  had  had  one,"  said  Philip,  iu 
whom  fatigue  bad  produced  low  spirits.  **  The 
visitor,  whoever  he  was,  not  finding  them,  may 
have  carried  off  the  bear's  flesh  and  returned 
without  them."  "  I  think  that  I  can  convince 
you  that  my  conjectures  are  correct,"  said  Mr. 
Norman,  after  looking  about  for  some  time  lon- 
ger. *'  You  killed  the  bear  with  long  stakes  :  I 
can  find  none  ;  they  would  naturally  have  car- 
ried them  off  as  trophies.  They  had  skates ; 
none  are  to  be  seen,  the  footprints  are  those  of 
shoes.  "  How  came  the  hole  ?  "  asked  Philip. 
"  They  made  it  themselves  to  fish  through.  See 
here  are  some  scales  which  Tom  Smith  has  just 
brought  me,  and  which  his  shai*p  eye  detected 
near  the  hole :  the  fish  was  evidently  thrown 
down  there  on  being  unhooked.  Come,  I  doubt 
if  any  Indian  would  read  marks  more  clearly 
than  I  have  done,  though  probably  he  would  ex- 


Or^  Adventures  in  Canada, 


107 


plain  matters  in  a  far  more  pompous  style.  The 
fact  is,  my  experience  of  bush  life  and  Indian 
life  has  been  very  considerable,  as  you  will  un- 
derstand it  you  like  some  day  to  listen  to  some  of 
my  adventures.  But  there  is  nothing  to  keep  us 
longer  here." 

Philip  was  happier,  but  not  thoroughly  satis- 
fied. The  party  set  out  on  their  return.  "  This 
ice  would  not  have  borne  us  many  hours  hence  ; 
be  ready  for  a  leap  into  the  canoe,"  said  iVIr. 
Norman.  They  reached  the  settlement,  however, 
in  safety.  The  inhabitants  were  divided  in  opin- 
ion as  to  whether  the  young  Ashtons  were  lost 
or  not ;  Philip  was  eager  to  reach  home  to  settle 
the  point.  Mr.  Norman  had  sent  for  wheels  for 
his  vehicle,  as  the  snow  had  melted  too  much  to 
allow  of  runners.  It  was  soon  mounted,  and 
away  they  rattled,  bumped  and  thumped,  Mr. 
Norman  singing  — 

" '  You  and  I,  Billy,  have  often  heard  how  folks  are 
ruined  and  undone, 
By  overturns  in  carriages,  by  fires  and  thieves  in 
London  " 


ii 


{ 


r^ 


. 


I 


108  The  Log  House  i 

"  You  see,  my  younu^  friend,  we  must  look  out 
for  haps  and  mishaps  in  the  country  as  well  as  in 
town,  on  shore  as  well  as  at  sea.  Ignorant  of 
religion  as  seamen  are,  they  have  a  right  feeling 
of  a  superintending  Providence,  .vhich  makes 
them  feel  as  secure  in  the  midst  of  the  raj'inLT 
storm  as  they  would  driving  about  in  the  crowded 
city.  The  true  believer  in  Christ  is  ready  to  die 
at  any  moment.  This  it  is  makes  weak  women 
courageous,  while  strong  men  show  themselves  to 
be  cowards  when  instant  death  threatens  them." 

Philip  thought  to  himself,  "  How  did  I  be- 
have and  feel  when  I  was  in  the  water  this 
morning  ?  —  how  when  I  found  the  hole  in  the 
ice,  and  thought  that  my  brothers  had  fallen 
through  ?  "  The  journey  to  the  clearing,  which 
across  the  ice  would  not  have  occupied  twenty 
minutes,  and  not  an  hour  by  land  had  the  snow 
been  hard,  took  up  more  than  two  hours,  with  the 
risk  of  an  overturn  or  breakdown  every  yard,  and 
6uch  jolting  as  only  well-knit  limbs  would  endure. 

At  last  the  log  house   appeared   before    ihcm. 


ill 


Oi\  Adventures  in  Camida. 


lO'J 


"A  very  creditable  editice ;  really,  IMi-.  I'liiiip, 
you  were  born  a  backwoodsman,"  exclaiint  d  Mr. 
Norman.  "I  learned  carpentering,  and  the 
principal  rules  for  lionse-buildinj^,  wiiile  my  hands 
and  eyes  have  been  kept  in  exercise  from  my 
childhood,"  was  the  ansvver.  "  That  is  the  prep- 
aration required  for  all  settlers  in  the  bush,  and 
which  so  large  a  number  want  and  fail  of  success 
in  consequence  —  or  at  all  events  waste  precious 
years  in  gaining  at  a  heavy  cost  the  knowledge 
with  which  they  ought  to  begin.  I  commenced 
the  world  without  a  sixpence,  and  have  worked 
my  way  up  to  wealth  and  independence  by  the 
proper  use  of  my  hands  and  head.  A  settler,  to 
rise,  must  have  both.  We  welcome  hands  in  the 
province.  The  possessor  of  a  head  benefits  him- 
self chiefly —  not  that  we  could  get  on  without 
heads  either." 

As  they  drove  up  to  the  door,  D'Arcy  was  the 
first  person  to  meet  them.  Philip's  heart  sunk 
within  him  in  spite  of  what  Mr.  Norman  had 
been    saying.      He    hoped    to    have    seen    his 


110 


The  Log  House; 


il 


I 


w 


M 


i\ 


■^l  f 


!)r()tliors.  •*  AVhere  are  the  lads  ?  "  he  exclaimed, 
eagerly.  **  All  riglit,  come  in.  I  will  take  your 
horse  round,  Mr.  Norman,"  said  D'Arcy  ;  and  as 
the  door  opened,  the  boys'  voices  were  heard 
from  their  room.  The  rest  of  the  family  quickly 
came  to  the  entrance  to  welcome  them  ;  and 
D'Arcy,  coming  back,  explained  what  had 
occurred.  He  had  seen  the  blaze  of  their  buin- 
ing  hut,  but  not  suspectmg  the  cause,  had  gone 
across  the  lake  with  his  canoe  on  runners,  to 
ascertain  if  they  had  got  home  safe,  not  sorry 
for  a  good  excuse  for  his  visit.  His  appearance 
naturally  caused  great  dismay  and  anxiety.  He, 
however,  afforded  his  friends  some  comfort  by 
assuring  them  that  he  believed  the  missing  ones 
would  be  found  on  the  island,  towards  which, 
supplied  with  a  compass,  he  immediately  set  out, 
accompanied  by  Peter,  and  carrying  provisions, 
cordials,  and  blankets.  His  satisfaction  was  con- 
siderable when  laughing  voices  proceeded  from  the 
direction  of  the  island,  and  he  found  the  vounof 
gentlemen  amusing  themselves  greatly  by  fishing 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


Ill 


claimed, 
ce  your 
and  as 
}  heard 
quickly 
I  ;    and 
it     had 
V  bnrn- 
id  gone 
lers,  to 
t  sorry 
sarance 
lie, 
ort   by 
g  ones 
which, 
et  out, 
visions, 
as  con- 
jm  the 


VOUMQf 


fishing 


for  tomniicods.  Taking  the  best  parts  of  the 
bear,  lie  hurried  back  with  his  rescued  I'liends  to 
prevent  Philip,  should  he  arrive  first,  from  setting 
off  to  meet  them. 

Philip's  long  delay  had  again  caused  his  family 
great  anxiety.  A  happy  party,  with  grateful 
liearts,  assembled  round  Mr.  Ashton's  supper- 
table  that  evening  —  a  table  framed  by  his  own 
hands,  while  most  of  the  luxuries  were  supplied 
by  the  industry  of  those  sitting  round  it.  In 
another  year  there  would  not  be  an  article  of 
food  on  it  which  had  not  been  produced  on  the 
farm,  or  procured  from  the  lake,  or  surrounding 
v.oods.  Not  the  least  happy  was  Lawrence 
D'Arcy ;  and  perhaps  a  glance  at  Miss  Ashton's 
countenance  might  have  told  the  reason  why. 

*'  Well,  Mr.  Norman,  I  am  glad  at  length  to 
see  you  here ;  and  I  can  assure  you,  that  your 
prognostications  as  to  my  liking  the  country 
have  been  more  than  fulfilled,"  said  Mr.  Ash  ton. 
*'  I  have  never  for  an  instant  regretted  coming 
out  here ;  and  I  believe  that  I  am  happier,  and 


% 


1  i 


Wi- 


lli 


112 


2^he  Log  IIoUHe, 


tliiit  my  wife  and  cliiMiL'ii  juc  so,  tluiii  wo  should 
liuvc  \nniu  liad  wc  live<l  on  tliu  lil'o  wo  liiid  boon 
^jroiKKsinj^  lor  oiirselvos  iii  London,  wlion  I  found 
mysolC  do[)rivcd  oi'  the  propcnty  which  I  Lhouglit 
my  own. 

*'  God's  merciful  Providence  overruled  your 
plan  for  your  own  and  your  children's  good,'* 
said  Mr.  Norman.  "  I  know  nothini^  practically 
of  lari^e  cities,  and  little  enough  of  towns  ;  bub 
from  what  I  have  read,  I  suspect  that  the  t(!mi)- 
tations  to  evil  in  them  are  great,  and  the  advan- 
tages comparatively  small,  when  the  chief  object 
of  man's  life  is  considered.  No  life  can  more 
conduce  to  virtue  and  a  healthful  state  of  body 
and  mind  than  that  which  the  industrious  settler 
in  the  country  leads  out  here.  lie  has  h.ird 
work  and  rough  living,  may  be ;  but  what  is 
that,  whether  he  be  gentle  or  simple,  compared 
to  what  he  would  have  had  to  endure,  had  he 
without  fortune  remained  idle  at  home?  That 
is  the  question  all  settlers  must  ask  themselves 
over  and  over  again,  whenever  they  get  out  of 
sorts  with  the  Province." 


■%^ 


^  I 


CHAPTER    IX. 

J^ITisthe  fashion  to  say  in   En-'land,  so  I 

ff^'^  hear,  that  Canada  is  not  tlie    country    in 
I^^        .  „  *     • 

^\X^   which  people   can   make    fortunes,"   siiiil 

the  sheriff;  for  such  was  the  oflice  Mr, 
Norman  held  in  his  country.  **  I  ^^rant  that  it  is 
not  the  country  in  which  fortunes  will  come  of 
themselves ;  but,  putting  the  lower  Province  out 
of  the  question,  I  should  like  to  know  how  iho 
owners  of  the  nice  estates  and  pretty  villus 
scattered  so  thickly  throughout  the  upper  l*ro- 
vince  became  possessed  of  them.  How  has 
Toronto  sprung  up  into  a  lirst-rate  city?  How 
have-  Hamilton,    London,    and     twenty    other 

8  (113) 


i 


fl 


114 


The  Log  House; 


V 


towns  risen  in  a  few  years  into  importance  ? 
How  is  it  that  thousands  of  comfortable  farms 
are  found  in  aJl  directions  ?  Look  at  our  canals 
—  at  the  thousands  of  vessels  which  navisjate 
our  lakes  and  rivers ;  at  our  saw-mills,  and 
grist-mills,  and  manufactories  of  all  sorts ;  at 
the  tens  of  thousands  of  acres  of  corn  land ;  at 
our  pastures ;  at  our  oxen  and  kine ;  at  our 
flocks  of  sheep  ;  at  our  horses ;  at  our  public 
and  private  buildings ;  at  our  churches ;  our 
colleges ;  our  schools ;  our  hospitals ;  our  pris- 
ons ;  at  all  the  conveniences  of  a  highly-civilized 
community  which  we  possess,  and  then  let  me 
ask  to  whom  do  all  these  things  belong  ?  To 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Province.  Who  are 
they  ?  Men  mostly  whcJ  began  life  in  it ;  some 
few  whose  fathers  lived  in  it ;  but  very  few  in- 
deed whose  grandfathers  were  born  here.  Of 
these,  the  capital  of  the  greater  number,  when 
they  began  this  career,  might  have  been  counted 
by  shillings;  —  did  I  say  shillings?  I  wou  d 
rather  say  strong  hearts  and  hands,  without  coin 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


115 


at  all ;  some  few  might  have  reckoned  by  pounds, 
fewer  by  hundreds,  and  very  few  indeed,  if  any, 
by    thousands.     Then    how    did    they   become 
possessed  of  all  this   wealth  ?     Why  they  made 
all  this  wealth,  they  created  all  these  advantages, 
by  their  labor,   their  intelligence,  and  persever- 
ance.    They  are  theirs  —  to   enjoy  —  to   benefit 
by.     It  is  said  in  England,  '  We  do  not  find  rich 
Canadians  come  back  and  settle  at  home,    as  so 
many  Australians  do.'     Granted  :  Canada,  I  say, 
is  essentially  the  country  to  reside   in.     People 
who  have  made  fortunes  here  do   not  go   away, 
for  the  best  of  reasons  ;  because  here  they  have 
all  the  requirements  of  civilization,   all   the   ad- 
vantages which  the  Australians   go   to    England 
to  obtain.     I  say,  too,  that  numbers  do  make  very 
handsome  fortunes  —  though  I   grant,   as    I   be- 
fore observed,  that  fortunes  don't  come  of  them- 
selves;   but,    which   is   better,    no   one    who   is 
persevering,  industiious,  and  intelligent,  fails  to 
become  independent,  and    to  start   his   children 
W(ill  in  the  world.     I   don't   want   to   disparage 


; 


116 


The  Log  House; 


other  Provinces,  but  I  say  that  we  Canadians 
can  and  do  make  fortunes ;  and  what  is  more, 
we  have  the  means  of  enjoying  them  thorougiily, 
without  going  to  other  hinds  to  do  so." 

The  sheriff  had  got  on  a  subject  on  which  he 
always  grew  eager,  though  he  was  at  length 
obliged  to  pause  for  want  of  breath.  "  Take 
myself,  for  example,"  he  continued ;  "  I  rose,  if 
you  like,  from  the  bottom  of  the  tree ;  and  I 
knov/  fifty  —  I  may  say  a  hundred  men,  who 
have  got  up  as  I  have  done  —  my  brother  sheiiff 
of  the  next  county  among  them.  My  father 
came  over  from  England.  He  was  a  baker  by 
trade  ;  but  though  he  knew  how  to  make  loaves, 
he  did  not  know  how  to  read.  He  came  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Kingston  first,  and  worked  as  a 
journeyman.  When  he  had  saved  a  little  mon  y 
he  set  up  for  himself ;  then  he  got  a  share  in  a 
flour-mill,  and  bought  a  little  land  ;  —  then  a  lit- 
tle more ;  and  then  the  flour-mill  became  his  ; 
and  lastly,  he  sold  the  who^e  at  a  considerable 
profit,  and  moving  westward,  pitched  his  tent  at 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


117 


^th 


I 


, 


Pentanquishine,  on  Lake  Huron.  He  invested 
largely  in  land ;  and  troops  'being  stationed  there 
during  the  war  with  the  States,  and  it  becoming 
a  naval  station,  he  realized  a  considerable  profit. 
Though  uneducated  himself,  he  was  desirous  of 
giving  his  sons  a  good  education  ;  so  he  sent  us 
all  to  the  best  school  in  the  Province  —  I  mio-lit 
say  tlie  only  one  —  kept  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Straclian,  / 
now  Bishop  of  Toronto,  in  that  big  city,  then 
known  as  "  Muddy  Little  York."  The  excellent 
doctor,  of  whom  we  all  stood  in  reverential  awe, 
had  the  art  of  imparting  knowledge ;  and  I 
believe  I,  with  others,  benefiied  much  by  it.  Of 
my  two  elder  brothers  I  will  say  nothing,  except 
that  they  tyrannized  over  me  and  another 
brother  younger  than  I  was.  He  and  I  were 
fast  friends,  and  made  common  cause  against 
them.  As  Pentanquishine  could  not  supply  us 
with  clothing  fit  to  appear  in  at  Toronto,  our 
father  directed  us  to  get  it  at  that  place,  and 
entrusted  our  elder  brother  with  money  to  pay 
for  it.    He  got  clothing  certainly,  and  paid  the 


Ji 


i 


i 


w 


118 


The  Log  House; 


tailor,  but  it  was  for  himself  and  not  for  us,  anci 
we  were  allowed  to  go  on  wearing  our  shabby 
clothes.  I  protested  vehemently  against  this 
iniquitous  proceeding,  but  Arthur,  my  younger 
brother,  who  was  of  a  more  gentle  nature, 
yielded  quietly  and  said  nothing. 

"  There  was  to  be  a  public  examination,  at 
which  all  the  big-wigs  in  the  place  were  to  at- 
tend ;  and  I  told  my  brother  that  if  he  would 
not  order  us  both  proper  suits  of  clothes  I  would 
run  away  to  our  father  and  complain.  He 
laughed  at  me,  not  believing  that  I  would  make 
the  attempt.  I  was  as  good  as  my  word,  fur, 
pretending  I  was  ill  one  evening,  I  got  leave  to 
go  early  to  bed.  Instead  of  going  to  sleep  I 
watched  my  opportunity,  slipped  out  of  the 
house  with  all  the  money  Arthur  and  I  could 
collect, 'or  rather  save,  in  my  pocket,  and  running 
on  all  night,  before  morning  I  was  far  away  to- 
wards Lake  Simcoe.  You  see,  boys  brought  up 
in  the  bush,  as  I  was,  have  no  fear  of  being  out 
alone,  and  can  find  their   way  in  any   direction 


fi 


J 


f 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


119 


they  have  a  mind  to  follow.  Besides  which,  it 
was  a  beaten  cart-track  I  followed,  mostly  in  the 
line  the  railway  now  takes.  Great  cliangea 
since  then!  I  might  have  been  caught  even 
then,  for  I  was  pursued  for  some  distance  ;  but 
I  was  overtaken  by  an  old  acquaintance  —  a  car- 
ter, or  rather  a  packer  or  carrier  —  Jack  John- 
son by  name,  to  whom  I  narrated  what  had 
occurred.  My  elder  brother  had  on  some  occa- 
sion offended  him,  and  this  made  him,  probably, 
more  ready  to  take  my  part,  and  to  render  me 
assistance.  *Jump  into  the  wagon,  lad,  and 
hide  thee  away,  and  if  any  one  comes  after  thee, 
I'll  show  him  that  Jack  Johnson's  wagon  is  just 
as  much  his  castle  as  any  man's  house  is,  and  if 
he  pries  therein  he  must  take  the  consequences.* 
What  those  consequences  would  be  he  did  not 
say,  but  he  flourished  his  heavy  whip  with  a 
terocity  which  made  it  probable  that  the  head  of 
anybody  who  interfered  would  be  broken. 
With  this  consoling  reflection  I  fell  asleep,  for  I 
was  very  tired  after  my  long  run  during  all  the 


120 


The  Log  House; 


f 


^ 


■]' 


t 


night.  I  knew,  also,  that  Jack  would  be  ag 
good  as  his  word,  so  I  had  no  fears  to  keep  me 
awake. 

"We  jof^ged  on  all  day,  stopping  only  to  l)ait 
and  water  the  cattle.  Now  and  then  I  awoke 
and  looked  out;  it  was  the  same  scene  —  forest 
on  either  side,  with  now  and  then  a  small  lake,  or 
pond,  or  creek.  Jack  was  at  his  horses'  heads, 
whistling  away,  as  if  he  had  nothing  in  the 
world  to  care  for.  He  hadn't  either.  He  had 
been  a  workhouse-boy  in  the  old  country,  and 
would  have  ended  his  days  as  a  laborer,  and  now 
he  was  laying  by  a  good  bit  of  money  every  trip, 
and  expected  to  be  able  to  buy  a  comfortable 
farm  before  long.  So  he  did,  and  has  brought 
up  a  numerous  family,  all  well-to-do  in  the 
world,  and  lives  himself  as  comfortably  as  any 
man  with  four  or  five  hundred  a  year  would,  I 
guess,  in  England.  At  night  we  stopped  at  a 
log  hut,  the  only  inn  on  the  road,  and  Juck 
brought  me  some  food  and  told  me  to  be  quiet, 
and  tluit  we  would  be  off  early  in  the  morning. 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


121 


•*  The  second  day  passed  much  as  did  the  first, 
except  that  I  had  lost  all  fear  of  being  overtaken. 
The  confession  is  somewhat  humbling,  but  the 
truth  is,  I  was  not  considered  worth  sendhig 
after.  *  Let  the  child  gang,  —  wie  sae  little 
brains  in  his  head  he's  sure  to  fall  on  his  feet,' 
observed  the  doctor,  when  informed  of  my  flight 
—  so  I  was  told.  In  the  evening  of  the  second 
day  we  reached  Holland's  Landing,  at  the  south 
end  of  Lake  Simcoe.  Settlers  had  begun  to 
take  up  the  land  on  either  side  of  the  lake :  they 
were  chiefly  naval  and  military  officers,  forced 
into  idleness  at  tlie  end  of  the  war,  without  any 
previous  training  for  the  life  they  were  to  lead, 
or  knowledge  of  what  would  be  required  of 
them  as  settlers.  The  naval  men  did  the  best, 
and  many  of  them  succeeded,  as  did  a  few  of 
the  military  men,  but  the  greater  number,  after 
a  few  years'  trial,  I  might  say  months,  left  in 
disgust,  or  ruined.  Many  never  came  even  to 
occupy  their  grants.  Jack's  business  was  to 
Bupply  these  gentlemen  with  goods,  which  most 
of  them  came  to  fetch  at  Holland's  Lauding. 


i  :l^ 


':tl 


122 


I 


The  Log  House; 


**  As  he  was  going  no  further,  T  had  now  to 
consider  how  I  was  to  perform  the  rest  of  my 
journey  west.  While  standing  in  the  rear  of 
tlie  store  with  Jack,  who  should  come  in  but  a 
trapper,  known  to  him,  Jean  Baptiste  by  name, 
to  make  some  purchases.  *  Whither  bound, 
friend  Baptiste  ?  *  asked  Jack.  I  could  nuike 
out  clearly  enough  the  mearting  of  his  reply,  but 
I  cannot  repeat  the  extraordinary  mixture  of 
Canadian,  French,  English,  and  Ojibbttway,  in 
which  it  was  couched.  He  intimated  that  he 
was  going  a  few  days'  journey  west,  over  ground 
where  there  was  then  an  abundance  of  beaver, 
martin,  mink,  and  other  fur-bearing  animals, 
which  are  rare  enough  now.  Jean  Baptiste 
showed  his  Indian  origin  by  his  long,  Jewish-like 
countenance,  dark  eyes,  and  raven  black  hair. 
He  was  dressed  in  skins,  the  hair  being  inside, 
in  spite  of  the  heat,  his  leggings  and  vest  orna- 
mented with  bead-work  and  gayly-dyed  porcupine 
quills,  and  mingled  with  colored  fibres  and 
worsted. 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


123 


"  I  slept  in  Jack's  cart,  and  just  at  day-break 
Baptiste  came  and  roused  me  up.  I  thanked 
Jack  heartily  for  his  kindness,  and  with  a  stout 
stick  in  my  hand,  with  which  he  presented  me, 
set  off  to  follow  my  strange-looking  guide 
towards  his  camp.  Here,  under  a  lean-to  of 
birch-bark,  I  found  Mrs.  Baptiste,  an  Indian 
squaw,  who,  if  not  a  solace  to  him  in  his  hour  of 
trial,  took  a  great  deal  of  trouble  off  his  shoul- 
ders, for  she  worked  for  him  ^rom  morning  till 
night  like  a  slave,  with  small  thanks.  In  the 
way  he  treated  his  wife  he  was  no  better  than  an 
Indian.  She  had  her  hand-sleigh  already  packed, 
and  as  soon  as  we  appeared  she  harnessed  herself 
into  it  and  began  dragging  it  off  without  saying 
a  word.  Talk  of  the  romance  of  Indian  life, 
there  is  none  of  it  of  an  elevated  nature.  All 
the  stuff  novelists  have  written  is  sheer  down-/ 
rioht  nonsense.  It  is  simple  brutality  from  beJ 
ginning  to  end.  I  speak  of  the  natives  I  have 
met  with  before  they  became  Christians.  Bap- 
tiste, on  the   strength  of  his  being  a  French- 


y 


124 


The  Log  House; 


Canadian,  on  his  father's  side,  called  himself  a 
Christian,  but  he  was  as  ignorant  of  religion  as 
was  his  squaw ;  and  here  let  me  remind  yon, 
wlicnever  you  write  to  your  friends  in  England, 
tt'U  them  that  there  is  a  grand  opening  for 
iiiissionaiy  laborers  among  the  wide-scattered 
Indian   tribes  still   existing   on   this    continent. 

* 

Something  is  being  done,  but  much  more  may  bo 
done  ;  and  not  only  is  thore  work  to  be  done 
among  Indians,  but  among  the  out-settlers,  and 
especially  among  the  laborers  on  the  Ottawa. 
iNcver  mind  whether  they  are  Romanists  or  not. 
They  never  hear  the  Gospel  of  free  grace 
preached  from  one  end  of  the  year  to  the  other. 
I  believe  that  a  missionary  going  among  them 
would  find  abundant  fruit  as  the  result  of  his 
labors. 

"  To  return  to  Baptiste.  He  had  set  his  traps 
in  the  forest  along  the  route  we  were  to  take, 
and  so  we  had  to  push  our  way  through  it,  sleigh 
and  all,  he  scarcely  condescending  to  help  his 
squaw  when  it  stuck  between  the  stumps  of  the 


\ 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada.  125 

trees,  sl,e  also  Inokinrr  with  supreme  contempt  on 
me  when  I  attempted  to  help  her;  indeed  she,  I 
^^n^y,  consi(hMed  me  rather  officious  than  other- 
^vise.     I  travelled  on  for  several   days  with  this 
unaltractive  couple,  and  yet  I  believe  that  they 
were  really  fond  of  each  other.     They  were  hos- 
pitable  in  their  way  also,  for  their  pot  was  always 
well  supplied  with  meat,  and  they  gave  me  as 
much  as  I  could  eat      It  was  not  of  the  choicest 
3^ind,  I  must  confess,  for  every  creature  the  trap- 
per caught  went  into  it,  with  a  mixture  of  herbs 
and  roots,  among  which  garlic  predominated. 

"At  last  Captiste  told  me  that  he  had  come 
to  the  end  of  his  journey,  and  that  I  must  find 
the  rest  of  the  way  by  myself.     *  I  will  try,  of 
course,  but  it  strikes  me  that  I  shall  not  succeed,' 
was  my  answer.     *If  I  had  a  gun  and  powder 
and  shot,  or  even  your  traps,  I  would  get  on  fast 
enough  as  soon  as  I  could  find  my  way  into  the 
blazed  road,  but  out  here  the  thing  is  impossible. 
If  you  will  not  come  along  with  me  I  must  go 
back  with  you.* 


:  I 


126 


The  Log  House; 


•*  lie  Ricfnified  that  he  would  be  p^lad  enonnrh 
to  have  my  company,  but  that  he  had  promised 
Jack  to  see  me  on  my  way,  and  tliat  his  honor 
was  concerned  in  doing  so.  He  could  not  go  on 
himself,  but  he  would  find  some  Indians  wlio 
wouhl  guide  me  if  I  could  pay  tliem.  1  had 
three  dollars  in  my  pocket,  I  told  him.  He  said 
half  that  sum  would  content  them  if  I  would  pay 
it  them.  He  soon  found  the  trail  of  some  Indians 
whom  he  knew  to  be  his  friends  —  we  came  up 
with  them.  The  bargain  was  struck  with  two 
of  them  to  see  me  safe  all  the  way,  and  Bap- 
tiste  told  me  that  they  were  highly  delighted, 
though  they  took  care  not  to  show  it.  They 
were  accompanied  by  their  squaws ;  indet-ti,  an 
Englishman  of  fortune  would  as  soon  think  of 
travelling  without  his  valet  as  an  Indian  without 
his  squaw  to  perform  every  menial  occupation  he 
may  require.  There  was  nothing  romantic  in 
the  appearance  of  my  friends ;  one  wore  an  old 
hhooting-coat,  wliich  he  had  trimmed  with  col- 
ored w oisled,  while  the  other  had  fastened  a  blue 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


127 


c1iecl\e(l  8liiit  over  liis  other  garments  by  way  of 
oriiunicnt ;  the  rest  of  their  costume  being  more 
in  the  old  Indian  fashion  of  leatlier  and  fur. 
They  were  dirty  in  the  extreme,  and  not  over 
g()od-h)okir)g ;  but  they  had  honest  countenances, 
and  I  liad  no  fear  of  their  not  treating  me  fairly. 
One  of  them  went  before  me  to  clear  the  way, 
the  other  followed  at  my  heels  to  pick  me  up 
Hliould  I  stumble,  and  the  squaws  brought  up  the 
rear,  all  in  single  file.  The  squaws  had  to  build 
the  wigwams  —  or,  rather,  lean-tos  —  when  we 
camped,  to  collect  slicks  for  the  lire,  to  cook  the 
food,  and  to  bring  water  from  the  nearest  stream 
or  pond;  their  masters  condescended  to  catch  the 
game.  They  were  not  expert  trappers  like  Bap- 
tiste,  but  then  they  ate  creatures  which  he  would 
have  rejected — nothing  that  could  be  masticated 
came  amiss  to  them.  I  should  have  fared  badly, 
but  the  second  day,  just  after  we  had  camped, 
we  came  suddenly  upon  two  bears  with  two 
young  cubs.  They  were  as  much  surprised  at 
seeing  us  as  we  were  at  encouuterirsg  them.     One 


1* 


W        I 


>    I 


128 


The  Log  House; 


li 


!    !i 


of  the  Indians,  who  had  a  fowling-piece,  fired, 
and  hit  Mr.  Bruin  in  the  brain,  whereon  Mrs. 
Bruin  trotted  off  with  one  of  the  cubs;  while  the 
other  Indian  with  his  bow  shot  the  cub  which 
had  remained  with  his  father. 

*'  I  was  eager  to  exhibit  my  prowess,  so  fol- 
lowed the  retreating  bears,  hoping  to  kill  the  cub 
with  my  stick.  Fortunately  they  took  the  way 
near  the  camp,  when  the  squaws,  seeing  me,  ran 
out  and  took  hold  of  me,  telling  me  that  as 
surely  as  I  had  killed  the  cub  the  motiier  would 
have  turned  round  and  torn  me  to  pieces. 
Though  I  still  wished  to  go,  they  held  me  tight 
till  the  bears  were  out  of  sight.  I  believe  fully 
that  they  saved  my  life,  and  certainly  it  was 
pleasanter  supping  on  a  bear  than  making  a 
supper  for  one. 

*'  At  last  we  reached  Pentanquishine,  and  so 
thankful  was  I  to  get  there  that  I  gave  the  hon- 
est Indians  two  dollars  instead  of  one  and  a,  half. 
I  fear  that  they  spent  the  greater  part,  if  not  the 
w^hole  of  the  sum,  at  the  grog-shop  before  they 
left  the  settlement. 


red, 
Mra. 
1  the 

hich 

fol- 
}  cub 

way. 
;,  ran 
at  as 
vould 
ieces. 

t^ht 

fully 

was 


ing   a 


Ind  so 
hon- 
half. 

lot  the 
they 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


129 


'"What!  who  are  you,  you  little  raganuiffin?' 
exclaimed  my  fatlier  when  he  saw  me,  for  by 
that  time  so  torn  had  become  my  graments  by 
the  thorny  shrubs,  that  th-y  literally  were  iu 
shieds.  *  You  are  no  child  of  mine  ;  gee  out 
with  you,  you  little  ill-conditioned  cub.'  I  ought 
not  to  have  been  surprised  at  this  greeting, 
though  it  was  not  pleasant  to  my  feelings. 

"  I  had  considerabia  difficulty  in  persuading 
him  who  I  was,  and  of  the  truth  of  my  state- 
ment as  to  the  cause  of  my  leaving.  At  last  he 
did  believe  me,  and  declared  that  he  would  break 
Dick's  head  and  stop  his  allowance  for  the  fol- 
lowing half.  Dick,  when  he  came  home  for  the 
holidays,  made  me  beg  him  off,  not  the  getting 
his  head  broke,  for  that  he  laughed  at,  but  the 
having  his  allowance  stopped,  which  he  guessed 
might  be  done. 

"  When  I  went  back  at  the  commencement  of 

the  next  half,  the  doctor  took  no  notice  oi"  w  hat 

had  occurred,  and  from   having   been  the  most 

ragged,  I  became  one  of  the  best-dressed  boys  in 

9 


\k 


m 


hi 


135 


The  Log  Rouse; 


i! 


the  school.  This  was  not  always  to  last.  My 
el(Ur  brothers  went  home  to  begin  life,  leaving 
me  and  Arthur.  We  were  very  glad  when  they 
vent,  for  they  bullied  us  terribly.  A  year  passed 
and  then  came  a  letter  with  a  black  seal,  and  we 
heard  that  our  father  was  dead.  Dick,  who  had 
come  of  age,  inherited  his  property,  and  it  seemed 
had  the  power  of  doing  with  us  just  what  he 
liked.  It  arose  thus ;  our  poor  father  had  been 
seized  with  the  desire  of  having  his  eldest  son  a 
gentleman  of  fortune,  and  thinking  that  by  leav-* 
ing  him  all  his  property  he  could  do  so,  he  beg- 
gared the  rest  of  us.  Dick  wrote  us  word  that 
we  must  earn  our  own  living,  but  that  he  would 
be  a  brother  to  us,  and  to  show  his  affection  he 
a]3preniiced  me  to  a  chair-maker,  and  my  slight, 
delicate  young  brother  Arthur  to  a  blacksmith. 

**  Mine  was  not  a  bad  trade,  for  furniture  was 
in  great  demand.  *  If  that  is  to  be  my  calling  I 
''A'ill  go  at  it,'  said  I  to  myself.  1  did  so,  and 
soon  could  turn  a  chair  very  neatly  cut  of  hand. 
Arthur  could  make  no  hand  at  the   blacksmith 


I        1 


My 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada,  131 

work  -  his  arm  had  not  strength  to  wield  a  ham- 
mer ;  I  went  to  his  master  and  asked  him  to   let 
him  off.     «  No,  I  never  does  anything  without  an 
equivalent/  was  his  answer  ;  *  but   I'll  tell   you 
what,  youngster,  I  happen  to  want  some  chairs 
for  my  woman  and  children   to   sit   on:  now,  if 
you'll  make   them  for  me,  slick   off-hand,   your 
brother  shall  go  free,  I  guess.'     The  bargain  was 
struck.     I  was  anxious  to  get  poor  Arthur  free, 
for  every  day   was   killing. him    with   labor  for 
which  he  was  so  unfit.     I  set  to    work   at   once, 
and  each  moment  that  I  could,  spare   from   my 
proper  duties  to  my  master  I  employed  in  making 
the  chairs.     I  was  determined  that  he  should  not 
say  that  they  were  not  good  chairs  —  strong  and 
handsome.     The  blacksmith  was  highly  pleased 
with  them,  and  instantly  freed  my   brother   and 
made  me  a  present  of  a  couple  of  d(;llars. 

"  With  this  sum  and  a  little  more  I  had  made 
by  working  out  of  hours,  I  set  Arthur  to  trade 
on  his  own  account,  to  k^ep  him  till  my  term 
was  out,  which  was  to  be    very   shortly.      From 


M'ii 


I.  J 


Ri        ! 


iai 


132 


The  Log  House; 


I 


the  day  I  had  left  school  I  had  not  neglecied  my 
studies,  and  I  used  to  read  all  the  books  I  could 
lay  hands  on  during  every  spare  moment.  Lite 
is  short  enough  as  it  is,  and  people  make  it  still 
shorter  by  idling  away  their  time.  I  knew  that  I 
had  plenty  of  work  to  do,  and  I  found  out  early 
that  to  get  it  done  I  must  not  lose  a  moment.  I 
consequently  not  only  kept  up  the  knowledge  I 
obtained  at  school,  but  got  a  fair  amount  besides. 

"We  worked  on  for  three  years,  I  making 
chairs  and  Arthur  selling  them,  saving  money, 
but  not  very  fast.  I  had  no  fancy  to  go  on  chair- 
making  all  my  days,  and  I  wished  for  a  more  ac- 
tive life. 

**  I  had  paid  a  visit  to  Holland's  Landing  a  few 
months  before  this,  and  I  found  that  my  friend, 
Jack  Johnson,  was  still  driving  a  thriving  trade 
with  the  settlement  along  the  shore?  of  the  lake  ; 
but  he  had  not  a  good  head  for  business,  and  I 
saw  that  a  great  deal  more  might  be  made  of  it 
than  he  made.  A  steamer  was  building  to  run 
on  the  lake.    She  was  to  commence  running  in  a 


Or,  Adve7iture8  in  Canada, 


133 


few 
[lend, 
trade 
|iake  ; 
ind   I 
of  it 
run 
in  a 


few  vlaya.  I  applied  for  the  office  of  purser,  or 
steward  —  call  it  which  you  will.  I  obtained  it, 
at  a  low  salary,  stipulating  that  I  would  be  al- 
lowed to  trade,  to  a  certain  extent,  on  my  own 
account.  That  was  all  I  wanted.  My  plans 
were  at  once  formed.  Jack  was  to  purchabe  and 
bring  up  the  articles  from  Toronto,  and  Arthur 
and  I  to  go  round  to  the  farms,  as  far  as  wo 
could  reach,  and  to  obtain  orders,  large  or  small. 
All  were  fish  which  came  into  our  net,  from  an 
ounce  of  tobacco  to  the  furniture  of  a  house  or 
the  machinery  for  a  saw-mill,  provided  we  could 
get  security  ;  it  would  have  been  folly  to  trade 
without  that,  especially  with  some  of  our  custo- 
mers. * 

"  We  paid  considerable  suras  to  the  steame. 
for  freight  and,  pleasing  the  owners,  were  able., 
with  their  aid,  to  increase  our  credit  and  our 
business.  It  is  extraordinary  how  reckless  some 
of  those  we  dealt  with  were  in  givin'-  orders  for 
goods  and  in  mortgaging  their  property  as 
security,  without  a  prospect,  as  far  as  we  could 


'■iil 

m 


I'' 


Slif 


I 


i! 


m 


Id 


U     I. 


134 


The  Log  House; 


judge,  of  their  being  able  to  pay  us  witboiit 
allowing  the  mortgage  to  be  foreclosed.  That 
you  may  not  think  ill  of  me  on  that  account,  I 
may  say  that  we  thus  had  an  opportuuity  of 
l)eing  of  considerable  service  to  many  of  these 
improvident  gentlemen.  Our  trade  throve,  and 
I  soon  found  that  it  would  be  convenient  to  es- 
tablish a  store  at  the  principal  place  at  which 
the  steamer  called.  Arthur  took  charge  of  it, 
and  the  flourishing  condition  of  the  concern 
showed  that  we  were  right  in  our  expectations. 

"  Our  capital  increased.  We  were  compelled 
to  foreclose  some  mortgages ;  and  as  we  did  not 
wish  to  keep  the  farms  of  which  we  thus  be- 
came possessed,  we  sold  them  at  more  or  less 
profit.  We  were  in  the  way  of  hearing  when  land 
was  to  be  sold  at  a  cheap  rate,  either  improved 
or  unimproved,  and  by  purchasing  such  land  and 
re-selling  to  newly-arrived  settlers,  who  became 
good  customers,  we  profited  considerably.  We 
'.:ot  the  best  of  everything,  and  our  desire  was 
to  supply  those  who  bought  of  us  with  what  we 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada^  V6b 


ithont 
That 
lint,  I 
itv   of 
these 
;,  and 
to  es- 
which 
of  it, 
oncern 
ions, 
ipelled 
id  not 
Ills  be- 
or  less 
3n  land 
proved 
nd  and 
became 
J,    We 
re   was 
hat  we 


knew  they  would  most  require,  and  which  would 
give  them  satisfaction. 

"  As  soon  iis  f  had  established   a   business   I 
left  the  steam-boat  and  went  to  live  on  shore,  at 
the  store,  having  first  taken  to  wife  the  daughter 
of  my  old  master.     A  very  good   wife   she   has 
made  me,  and  1  should  like,  some  day,   to   bring 
her   over   to   see   you,    Mrs.    Ashton ;   but   you 
mustn't  expect  to  see  a  fine  lady,  such  are   not 
the   good    wives  of    this  Province.     For   many 
3ears  she  was  a  hard-working   housewife,    when 
helps  were  beings  not  to  be  procured  for  love  or 
money.     The  station  of  life  which  T  then  occu- 
pied  was  different  to  what   I   now   fill,   but   my 
good  wife  has  had   no   ambition   to   change   her 
style  of  dress  or  living  with  our  change   of  cir- 
cumstances,  from  the  feeling  that  she  might  ap- 
pear out  of  place.     In  fact,  my  dear  madam,  you 
will  understand  that  she   is   not   vulgar,   and    is 
essentially  free  from  all  vulgar  ambition.     Hero 
I  must  bring  the  sketch  of  my  early  life  to  a 
conclusion,  remarking  that  what  my  brother  and 


m 


BF 


136 


The  Log  House* 


I  did,  hundreds  of  others  have  done  in  this 
Province,  and  thousands  more  will  do  if  they  will 
practise  self-control,  labor  industriously  in  what- 
ever station  they  are  placed,  and  be  ready  to 
step  into  any  opening  which  may  present  itself, 
always  doing  their  duty,  and  praying  for 
strength  and  guidance  from  above.** 


CHAPTER  X. 

LTHOUGH  the  Canadian  winter  imperleg 
^^^,_^  agricultural  operations,  there  is  plenty 
^r^  of  work  to  be  done  both  out-of-doors, 
and  in-doors,  especially  on  a  newly- 
cleared  farm.  Chopping  down  the  trees  goes  on, 
and  if  the  brushwood  has  been  collected  before 
the  snow  falls,  the  huge  trunks  can  be  dragged 
together  and  piled  in  heaps  to  be  burnt  off.  It 
may  seem  a  sad  waste  of  good  timber,  but  it  is 
the  least  expensive  way  of  getting  rid  of  what 
cumbers  the  ground ;  besides  which,  the  ashes 
very  much  assist  to  fertilize  it.  The  Ashtons, 
however,  found  that  they  could  dispose  of  theirs 

(137) 


<■ 


138 


The  Log  House; 


m 


m 


at  the  nowly-erected  saw-mills,  if  they  could  be 
moved,  however,  by  any  force  they  could  com- 
mand, till  the  snow  fell  and  hardened.  Tlio 
logs  then  were  draji'-ged  down  over  it  ou  to  the 
ice,  where  they  were  easily  formed  into  a  raft  and 
floated  across  the  lake  to  the  mills  at  the  break- 
ing up  of  the  ice  in  spring. 

The  first  fall  of  snow  had  entirely  disappeared, 
and  the  lake  had  become  free  of  ice,  to  be 
covered  again,  however,  by  a  far  thicker  coat 
tlian  before,  and  equally  smooth.  Harry  and 
Charley  were  eager  to  have  an  ice-boat,  and  they 
persuaded  Philip,  in  spite  of  his  many  avocations, 
to  assist  them  in  making  one.  The  great  point 
was  to  have  good  runners.  These  should  have 
been  made  of  iron,  but  as  that  was  not  to  be 
procured,  they  got  some  hard  wood  of  sufficient 
length,  which  being  slightly  curved  up  at  the 
ends,  served  admirably.  The  boat  had,  there- 
fore, what  Harry  called  two  keels.  This  was 
the  most  important  part ;  —  the  boat  was  simply 
4  long  box  with  seats  across  it.     The  rudder, 


I 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


139 


i 


U 


M  be 
com- 
Tho 
to  tlio 
ift  and 
bieiiU- 

icfired, 
to    be 
ir   coat 
y    and 
id  they 
lations, 
t  point 
1  have 
t  to  be 
fficient 
at  the 
,  there- 
his  was 
simply 
rudder, 


which  was  an  oar  fixed  in  the  stern,  had  a  sharp 
iron  blade  which  wouhl  dig  into  the  ice.  The 
craft  was  rigged  as  a  schooner,  and  had  a  very 
creditable  appearance.  A  long  pole  with  an 
iron  head  helped  to  steer  her  and  to  put  her 
about. 

-  With  eager  haste  she  was  launched  on  the 
glass-like  expanse.  *'  Let  us  stand  across  to 
D'Arcy  and  astonish  him,"  cried  Harry.  "  We 
can  carry  him  the  invitation  to  spend  Christmas- 
day  with  us."  There  were  no  dissentient  voices. 
Philip  took  the  helm,  Harry  managed  the  head- 
sails,  Charley  the  main.  The  wind  was  on  the 
quarter.  The  sails  could  not  be  hoisted  till  they 
were  ready  to  start,  as  the  ice  offering  no  resis- 
tance, she  would  either  have  blown  over,  or  run 
away  before  the  wind.  Philip  was  not  quite  so 
sanguine  of  success  as  his  brothers.  The 
word  was  given  —  Harry  shoved  lound  the  head 
of  the  strange-looking  craft,  and  far  enough  off 
to  allow  the  rudder  full  play.  The  sails  were 
hoisted  —  the  sheets  hauled  aft  —  a  fresh  breeze 


ii 


Ml 


n 


: 


'  1 


110 


The  Log  House; 


filled  them,  to  the  delight  of  her  architects,  away 
she  shot  in  splendid  style.  She  answered  liei* 
helm  admirably.  It  seemed  but  a  few  minutes 
before  D'Arcy's  clearing  hove  in  sight.  Philip 
fired  off  his  gun  to  draw  his  friend's  attention  to 
them,  and  they  had  only  time  to  haul  down  their 
sails  before,  with  the  impetus  the  craft  had 
attained,  she  glided  up  to  the  landing-plaee,  and 
sent  them  all  tumbling  forward,  as  she  made  a 
bold  attempt  to  run  up  the  bank,  only  prevented 
by  Harry  with  his  iron-shod  pole. 

D'Arcy  required  no  great  pressing  to  embark 
with  them.  They  all  looked,  they  declared,  like 
veritable  Arctic  voyagers,  with  their  fur  caps, 
flaps  over  their  ears,  and  bear-skin  and  buffalo- 
skin  coats,  kept  in  by  sashes  or  belts.  The 
settlement  was  first  to  be  visited.  Such  a  craft 
as  theirs  had  never  been  seen  there,  and  created 
no  little  interest;  though  on  Lake  Ontario, 
before  Toronto,  ice-boats  of  a  more  elegant  con- 
struction are  constantly  used  when  the  ice  will 
allow  of  it  before  the  snow  falls. 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


141 


away 
id  liei' 
inutcs 
Philip 
ion  to 
1  their 
b    had 
e,  and 
nade  a 
vented 

ml  )ark 
d,  like 
r  caps, 

uffaio- 
The 

a  craft 
created 

ntario, 

nt  con- 
nce  will 


Tlio  store  was  visited,  find  commissions,  the  list 
of  winch  filled  two  columns  of  Philip's  note- 
book, were  executed,  and  then,  with  a  consider- 
able addition  to  their  lading,  they  once  more  got 
under  way.  They  had  now  to  beat  back ;  but 
the  boat  lay  closer  to  the  wind  than  if  she  had 
been  in  water,  and  thouijh  she  made  some  lee- 
way,  they  beat  back  in  a  wonderfully  short  space 
of  time.  They  were  so  delighted  with  their  sail 
that  they  could  scarcely  keep  '>ut  of  their  boat. 
The  whole  circuit  of  the  lake  was  visited,  and 
they  talked  of  taking  her  into  Lake  Huron, 
when,  perhaps  fortunately,  down  came  such  a 
fall  of  snow  as  to  make  rapid  progress  over  the 
ice  impossible,  and  they  once  again  returned 
to  their  more  serious  occupations. 

The  snow  became  every  day  harder,  till  a 
n*ust  formed  on  the  top  of  it,  which  made 
walking  over  it  where  it  was  not  beaten  down, 
both  difficult  and  painful.  Some  Indians  had 
encamped  in  the  neighborhood  for  the  purpose 
of  trading  with  the  pale   faces,   and   obtaining 


•  I 


r^- 


142 


The  Log  House; 


4) 


food  and  clothing.  Two  of  them  at  this  juncture 
came  with  some  slight  oblong  frames,  between 
three  and  four  feet  in  length,  with  net-work 
filling  up  the  inner  portion.  What  they  could 
be,  none  of  the  younger  members  of  the  family 
could  guess,  till  the  Indians  fastened  one  to  each 
of  their  feet  and  began  to  move  along  over  the 
snow  on  the  lake.  "  Snow-shoes !  snow-shoes !  " 
cried  Charley;  and  foithwith  a  bargain  was 
struck  for  several  pair.  The  squaws  brought 
some  the  next  day  of  a  lighter  construction  for 
the  ladies  of  the  family,  and  a  new  source  of 
amusement  was  found,  enabling  them  also  to  take 
the  exercise  so  necessary  for  health.  Bravely 
Sophy  and  her  sisters  faced  the  cold,  bitter  and 
biting  as  it  was,  and  with  their  brothers  made 
their  first  attempt  to  walk  in  snow-shoes  on  the 
lake. 

They  were  all  thus  engaged,  laughing  and 
shouting  and  enjoying  the  amusement,  when  an 
ol)j'_'ct  was  seen  in  the  dist;>ni;e  approaching 
them,  and  the  silvery  cheerful  sound  of  sleigh- 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


143 


iture 
ween 
work 
could 

aniily 
►  each 
er  the 
oes  1 
L    was 
rought 
Lon  for 
irce   of 
to  take 
Bravely 
iter  and 
•s  made 
s  on  the 

ing  and 
when  an 
roachin'^ 
)f  sleigh- 


bells  floating  up  to  them  through  the  calm  air. 
'*  Bravo  • —  excellent !  —  that  is  what  I  like  to 
see.  We  should  hear  nothing  of  sick  headaches 
in  Canada,  if  all  the  young  ladiei'  would  put 
their  pretty  little  feet  on  to  snow-shoes,  and  step 
over  the  country  as  you  are  doing,  or  rather  will 
be  doing  before  long,  for  you  are  on  the  ice  just 
now,"  cried  Mr.  Norman  from  a  handsome 
sleigh  which  drove  up  to  them.  The  horses' 
harness,  surmounted  by  a  belfry,  as  Harry  called 
the  frame  to  which  the  bells  were  suspended, 
was  covered  with  bright-colored  braiding,  and 
rich  skins  filled  the  sleigh  itself  and  hung  over 
the  back.  From  among  them  a  lady's  head  was 
seen.  "  Allow  me  to  introduce  my  wife," 
continued  Mr.  Norman.  "  She  has  just  told  me 
that  she  has  already  fallen  in  love  with  you  all ; 
but  do  not  let  us  bring  you  in  —  we  will  wait 
for  ^--ou  at  the  house." 

Sophy,  however,  soon  began  to  find  that  she 
had  had  snow-shoeing  enough  for  one  dd\^  hiuI 
the  rest  of  the  party  discovered,  when  they  took 


IM 


't; 


!ll 


n 


i 


jj-r!-'^'iVT.!'j';'fTig"B"5--u ''.'»!-■ 


144 


The  Log  House; 


'  1 


»< 


tl     ': 


2     ^ 


the  shoes  off,  that  their  insteps  ached  more  than 
they  had  ever  before  done.  Still  they  were  all 
ready  to  try  again  the  next  day.  Mrs.  Norinan 
proved  to  be  exactly  the  sort  of  person  her  hus- 
band had  described  her  i  though  homely,  she  was 
entirely  free  from  vulgarity,  and  as  she  had 
lived  all  her  life  in  Canada,  she  possessed  and 
was  glad  to  impart  a  large  amount  of  informa- 
tion most  valuable  to  Mrs.  Ashton  and  Soph^. 
She  promised  to  remain  a  week  with  them,  to 
give  them  instruction  in  numerous  departments 
of  domestic  management  of  which  they  were 
ignorant.  *•  It's  a  pleasure,  ma'am,  to  tell  you 
these  things,"  she  remarked  to  Mrs.  Ashton ;; 
•'  you  take  them  in  so  kindly,  and  don't  seem  to 
fancy  that  your  own  ways  are  better,  and  that 
you  know  more  than  the  person  teaching  you,  as 
some  people  do." 

The  winter  passed  by  pleasantly  and  usefully. 
There  were  some  days  when  even  the  most  hardy 
of  the  party  had  no  inclination  to  go  out ; 
this  was  when  there  was  a  strong  northerly  wind 


1'^  II 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


145 


1^1 
1 1 


hail 
B  all 
man 
Uus- 
s  was 

had 
I  and 
)rma- 
oph^c. 
m,  to 
inents 

were 
you 

titon ;; 
!em  to 
that 

ou,  as 

efully. 
hardy 
)  out ; 
wind 


and  an  intense  frost,  and  the  finer  particles  of 
enow  were  carried  through  the  air  and  struck  the 
face  like  so  many  Liliputian  arrows  discharged  by 
an  army  from  that  far-famed  land  of  Liliput. 
There  was,  however,  abundance  of  work  to  be 
done  in  the  house,  and  plenty  of  hard  exercise  in 
sawing  up  logs  for  the  stove  fires.  These,  while 
the  severer  frost  lasted,  were  never  allowed  to  go 
out,  and  no  one  had  reason  to  complain  of  the 
want  of  warmth  inside  the  house ;  indeeu,  the 
walls  were  so  thick,  that  they  retained  the  heat 
in  the  way  an  ordinary  brick  or  plank  building 
could  not  have  done.  Old  and  young  declared, 
that  in  spite  of  cold  and  snow,  they  had  never 
spent  a  happier  or  pleasanter  winter.  Probably 
the  happiness  of  the  elders  arose  from  seeing 
their  children  contented  and  well  employed 
around  them.  There  was  one  absent  —  Leonard, 
the  midshipman.  They  almost  wished  that  he 
would  give  up  the  sea,  and  come  and  live  with 
them.  Mr.  Ashton  had  not  even  suggested  that 
he  should  do  so,  though  his  necessary  allowance 


I  E'i 


H 


' 


146 


The  Log  House; 


?if 


\ 


took  away  a  large  portion  of  the  slender  income 
on  wliich  the  family  had  mainly  to  depend.  Ilia 
piiients  were  amply  rewarded  by  hearing  of  the 
high  cliara(;ter  he  wasgainingfor  himself.  D'Arcy 
was  a  freqnent  visitor  ;  he  would  have  been  more 
frequent,  but  duty  kept  him  laboring  at  homo. 
Occasionally  Philip  went  over  to  help  him  in  re- 
turn for  the  assistance  he  gave  them. 

The  winter  passed  away  so  rai)idly  that  they 
could  scarcely  believe  that  spring  had  really  come. 
Tlie  snow  melted,  the  green  grass  appeared,  tiie 
leaves  burst  forth,  the  flowers  bloomed  and  gave 
their  fragrance  to  the  air,  the  birds  warbled  forth 
their  notes  of  joy,  and  all  nature  seemed  alive 
and  busy.  If  time  passed  quickly  during  the 
months  of  winter,  it  flew  by  still  more  rapidly 
now  when  there  was  so  much  to  do  that  every 
moment  of  the  twenty-four  hours  was  fully  occu- 
pied, a  very  small  portion  only  being  devoted  to 
sleep ;  but  then,  as  Harry  declared,  they  all  slept 
very  fast,  so  that  they  really  got  as  much  as  they 
required.     They  were  all  up  at  dawu  of  day,  and 


Or,  Adventwea  in  Cariada, 


147 


Ilia 

the 
Arcy 
moro 
lome. 
in  re- 

they 
come, 
ftd,  the 
gave 
forth 
alive 
T   the 
apidly 
every 
occu- 
oted  to 
U  slept 
as  they 
ay,  and 


y 


but  a  short  time  was  allowed  for  meals  till  they 
asi-enibled  round  the  supper-table  by  the  light  of 
tlu'ir  home-made  candles,  the  most  social  and 
pleasant  meal  in  the  day,  when  the  hard  work 
was  over  and  any  light  in-door  occupation  could 
be  engaged  in.  Even  then  there  was  no  light  or 
frivolous  conversation  ;  constant,  steady  work  had 
sobered  their  minds,  and  they  had  no  taste  for 
what  was  not  real  and  earnest.  Generally  Mr. 
Ashton  or  Philip  read  some  interesting  book,  the 
Kuhject  of  which  was  afterwards  talked  over, 
while  comments  were  generally  made  as  they 
proceeded. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  describe  the  various  oc- 
cupations in  which  the  family  were  engaged. 
One  of  the  most  amusing  and  not  the  least  im- 
portant, was  the  sugar-making  from  the  neigh- 
boring sugar-bush  or  maple  grove,  before  the 
snow  had  disappeared  from  the  ground.  They 
were  surpiised  at  the  large  amount  of  sap  which 
even  a  single  tree  gave  forth.  This  being  collect- 
ed in  wooden  troughs  placed  under  the  spouta 


n 


'-.^■mmmm 


if 


Ml'! 


148 


The  Log  House; 


formed  in  the  trunk,  was  next  transferred  to  a 
liuge  cauldron,  where  it  was  boiled,  and  i\\v\\ 
turned  out  to  cool  and  cystallize.  They  wei e 
in  this  way  able  to  obtain  an  ample  supply  of 
Bugar  for  their  tea  or  coffee,  for  preserving  fruits, 
and  for  their  puddings  during  the  year.  The  de- 
mand for  it  became  considerable,  when,  as  the 
Bunnner  advanced,  all  sorts  of  wild  fruits  were 
found  in  the  woods,  and  strawberries  and  rasp- 
berries in  prodigious  quantities. 

The  Canadian  spring  soon  merges  into  full- 
blown summer.  The  boat  had  been  for  some 
time  launched,  and  Philip  acting  as  captain,  with 
Sophy  and  their  mother  as  passengers,  and  Harry 
as  crew,  started  in  her  to  pay  their  visit  of  wel- 
come to  D'Arcy's  mother  and  sisters,  who  had 
just  arrived  at  his  clearing.  The  Ashtons  were 
very  much  pleased  with  them.  They  were  just 
what  they  expected  D'Arcy's  relatives  would  be. 
Sophy  had  not  been  to  the  clearing  for  some 
time ;  D'Arcy  invited  her  to  accompany  him  over 
it.    On  one  side  stood  a  cottage  almost  com- 


[  to  a 
I    then 
r   weio 
ply   of 
r  fruits, 
riie  de- 
as   the 
s    wore 
d  rasp- 

ito  full- 
er some 
in,  with 
d  Harry 

of  wel- 
tvho  had 
JUS  were 
Fere  just 

ould  be. 
or  some 
him  over 
ost  com- 


Makiug  Sugar.    Page  148. 


I  * 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


149 


pleted.  D'Arcy  produced  a  plan.  "That  ia 
what  it  will  look  like  when  it  is  finished,"  he 
observed.  *'  For  whom  is  this  ?  "  asked  Sophy. 
*'  For  my  mother  and  sisters,'*  was  the  answer. 
*' Then  who  is  to  inhabit  your  house?"  asked 
Sophy,  though  the  moment  she  had  uttered  the 
words  she  wished  that  she  had  kept  silence.  "  I 
shall  be  very  miserable,  if  you  are  not  its  mis- 
tress," said  D'Arcy. 

They  were  the  first  couple  married  in  the  new 
church  at  the  settlement,  mainly  built  by  Mr. 
Ashton's  exertions.  He  had  hitherto,  from  his 
first  arrival,  conducted  a  service  at  his  own 
house,  open  to  all  who  would  attend. 

Mr.  Norman  wrote  to  Mr.  Ashton  to  say  that 
he  would  pay  him  a  visit.  "  I  have  come  on 
business,"  he  said,  after  the  usual  greetings  were 
over.  "  I  am  a  patriot,  and  I  am  anxious  for  the 
improvement  of  the  country.  Your  sons  are  ex- 
cellent young  men,  with  talent  and  sense.  The 
educrttion  of  the  two  younger  is  not  complete, 
and  Piiilip  might  improve  his  agricultural  knowl- 


T 


150 


The  Loy  Uou^e; 


edge  with  advantage  to  liimself  as  well  as  to  tlie 
Province.  On  tlicse  grounds  I  beg  to  invite  tlicui 
to  take  up  their  residence  at  my  house  at  To- 
ronto, while  they  take  advantage  of  the  very 
liberal  means  of  instruction  which  that  city 
affords.  There  are  some  important  lectures  on 
agriculture  which  are  about  to  comuK'nce. 
Charley  should  go  to  U[)per  Canada  College,  and 
Ilarry  to  the  University ;  and,  my  dear  sir,  as  I 
have  no  young  people  depending  on  me,  you 
must  allow  me  to  defray  all  expenses." 

Mr.  Ashton  could  not  decline  so  generous  an 
offer.  It  is  possible  that  Harry  and  Charley  were 
:  slightly  disappointed  at  having  to  go  to  school 
I  again,  but  Philip  was  most  thankful  for  the  ad- 
vantage offered  him.  D'Arcy  undertook  to  assist 
Mr.  Ashton  in  his  labors  on  the  farm  durinor 
Pliilip's  absence.  The  three  brothers  started  to- 
gether. Their  life  in  Toronto  was  very  different 
to  what  it  had  been  in  the  bush  —  round  hats, 
frock-coats,  and  Wellington  boots,  superseded 
wide-awakes,    shoo  ting- jackets,    and     hobnailed 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


lol 


fihoes  or  moccasins  rand  tlieir  ham  mors,  saws, 
ftud  axes,  were  exchanged  for  books,  while  social 
meetings  of  various  sorts  occupied  many  of  the 
evenini^s  when  tliere  were  no  lectures  to  attend. 
Hurry  and  Ciiarley  now  and  then  sighed  for  tiie 
wootls  and  their  lake,  hut  as  they  took  long 
walks  eveiy  day,  their  health  in  no  way  suffered 
from  the  chunge ,  —  indeed,  they  could  not  help 
confessing,  that  however  pleasant  it  might  be  to 
CJirpenter,  and  dig,  and  look  after  their  horses 
and  cows,  and  to  sail  and  row  on  the  lake,  they 
had  brains  which  might  be  employed  to  some  bet- 
ter purpose,  if  those  brains  were  properly  culii- 
vated ;  so  they  stuck  manfully  to  their  studies, 
and  made  a  progress  which  surprised  even  them- 
selves. **I  believe  that  it  is  the  fine,  clear 
weather  of  this  climate  which  helps  us,"  ob- 
served Harry ;  "  I  know  that  I  feel  twice  as 
bright  as  I  used  to  do  in  England.  ' 

Philip  fouml  ample  occupation  in  a  variety  of 
ways,  and  said  that  he  felt  as  if  his  old  college 
days  had  come  b^ck,  as  he   sat  in  the  study  hid 


152 


2'he  Log  House; 


kind  friend  had  f,nven  him,  surrounded  by  liia 
bo()i\.s  iind  pii[)ers.  Duty  had  made  him  turn 
backwoodsiiiiui  ;  liis  inclinalion  would  ccrlHinly 
liave  led  iiim  in  a  difrcrent  course  ot'  hie.  lie  in 
lime  M)rin('(l  many  a.nr<'(  able  acqujiintanees,  ijoth 
among  the  families  residing  in  the  city  and  the 
single  men. 

*'  By-the-by,  Ashton,*'  said  one  of  liis  acquaint- 
ances, with  whom  lie  was  walkinLj  home  from  a 
lecture,  "  I  met  last  nij^ht,  at  Mrs.  Stewart's,  a 
lady  o*'  your  name,  a  very  pretty  and  ai^recnible 
girl,  though  rather  grave  perhaps.  She  has  only 
just  arrived  with  a  family  of  the  name  of  Mason, 
wlio  have  come  out  to  settle.  There  are  a  num- 
ber of  young  Masons,  and  she  was  spoken  of  as 
the  governess,  but  from  the  way  she  was  treated 
she  is  rather  a  companion  friend  of  Mrs.  Mason's, 
1  should  think." 

"  I  know  of  no  relation  of  ours  likely  to  come 
out  here,"  raid  Philip,  at  the  same  time  a  very 
curious  sensation  circling  round  his  heart.  "  Did 
you   hear   her  Christian   name?"     '^No;    they 


i  1 


]  n 


Oty  Adventures  in  Canada. 


153 


>i,i 


only  called  her  Miss  Aslitoii,"  8iii<l  his  friend. 
♦'  Shu  Kiin^,  and  very  sweistly."  *'  VVhiit  is  sho 
like?"  asked  Philip.  His  liicjnd  bcj^iin  to  siis- 
l»(;et  that  ho  was  interested  in  the  stranger,  and 
lie  i-eplied,  '*  I  told  you  that  slio  is  pretty,  witii 
clear  eyes,  a  fine  forehead,  and  regular  feature's, 
and  rather  short  tlian  tall,  I  should  say.  A  good 
figure,  certainly,  and  a  bright  eomplexion ;  no, 
not  always,  —  it  brightened  up,  I  remember, 
wlien  she  was  speaking ;  and  her  hair,  that  was 
not  light,  —  was  it  black  or  brown  ?  —  yes,  I  am 
certain,  a  rich  brown.  There,  I  have  given  you 
the  fair  stranger's  portrait  to  the  best  of  my 
power."  "  Very  extraordinary.  Where  do  the 
]\Iasons  live  ?  "  asked  Philip.  "I  will  ask  Mrs. 
Stewart,  and  get  you  introduced  to  them,"  said 
his  friend.  "  You  will  not  find  them  where 
there  are  balls  or  common  gayeties  going  on,  I 
suspect.  "  That  makes  it  still  more  [jrobirble," 
thought  Philip.  He  made  very  lew  notes  that 
evening  of  the  lecture  he  had  attended. 

There  was  to  be  a  private  missionary  meeting 


JM 


164 


The  Log  House; 


I 


at  Mrs.  Stewart's  house,  and  Philip  and  his 
brother  received  an  invitation.  Tliere  wero 
many  of  his  Toronto  acquaintances  in  the  room, 
the  rest  were  strangers.  He  looked  round  tlio 
different  rooms  in  vain  for  Mary  Ashton,  for  sho 
it  v/as,  once  his  affianced  wife,  whom  he  expected 
to  meet.  Two  young  ladies  answered  soniewliat 
the  description  his  friend  had  given  him,  still 
he  did  not  like  to  ask  if  a  Miss  Ashton  was 
pres?Bnt,  lest  his  hopes  should  be  rudely  dashed 
to  the  ground.  The  speakers  had  not  arrived, 
and  ^^eople  were  moving  about  from  room  to 
room.  He  tried  to  compose  his  feelings  by  talk- 
ing to  his  acquaintance  on  the  subject  of  the 
mission  about  to  be  advocated.  While  he  was 
talking  Harry  came  to  him,  and,  touching  his 
elbow,  said,  *'  Phil,  I  have  just  been  introduced 
to  a  very  nice  person,  who,  curious  enough,  has 
our  name.  I  do  not  know  if  she  knew  mine,  but 
I  saw  her  afterwards  watching  me  round  the 
room,  and  I  want  you  to  find  out  who  she  can 
be.     She  may  be  a  cousin  of  the  fiftieth  degree^ 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada, 


155 


perhaps,  and  I  should  like  to  find  some  relations 
out  here." 

Philip  did  not  stop  to  hear  more,  but  hurrying 
into  the  room  his  brother  mentioned,  he  satisfied 
himself  that  Mary  Ashton  was  really  theie. 
She  discovered  him.  He  advanced,  and  saw  by 
the  pleased  expression  of  her  countenance  that 
he  might  venture  to  take  a  seat  by  her  side. 
Explanation  quickly  followed.  He  told  her  how 
he  had  come  out  to  Canada,  and  how  successful 
he  and  his  family  had  been  in  establishing  a 
home  for  themselves  in  the  wilderness. 

"  I  have  a  very  different  tale  to  tell,"  she  said 
with  a  sigh,  and  her  countenance  grew  sad. 
"  My  home  is  broken  up.  The  wealth  my  poor 
father  so  suddenly  acquired  has  been  dissipated 
and  lost.  Without  the  necessary  experience  for 
business,  or,  perhaps,  I  should  say  wanting  the 
calculating  craft  of  the  successful  speculator,  he 
suffered  himself  to  be  involved  in  transactions  of 
an  extensive  nature,  which  he  was  led  to  believe 
would  double  his  wealth.     They  proved   to   be 


.<•  !■£ 


156 


The  Log  House; 


t    ! 

1.    :li 


II 


iii 


the  fraudulent  schemes  of  sharpers,  planned  for 
tJu'ir  own  profit  and  my  father's  ruin.  It  whs 
in  vain  that  he  was  warned  of  their  desinjns  — 
he  was  infatuated,  and  would  listen  to  no  counsel 
but  that  of  his  treacherous  betrayers,  who 
plunged  him  deeper  and  deeper  into  obligations 
and  liabilities,  which,  in  the  end,  engulfed  the 
whole  of  iiis  large  fortune.  He  had  even  to  fly 
the  country  to  escape  a  prison,  and  is  at  this 
moment  hiding  from  his  creditors  until  his 
affairs  can  bo  arranged.  Everything  had  to  be 
given  up.  My  mother's  small  portion  is  barely 
sufficient  to  maintain  her  and  my  sisters ;  my 
brothers,  ill  prepared  for  the  lot  that  is  before 
them,  are  abroad  in  the  world,  making  their  way 
as  they  best  can  ;  as  for  myself,  not  choosing  to 
add  to  my  mother's  burdens,  I  have  accepted  the 
post  in  Mrs  Mason's  family  which  I  now  occupy. 
She  is  an  old  and  well-tried  friend,  who  has 
known  me  from  my  infancy,  aucl  both  she  and 
her  children  regard  me  as  one  of  themselves. 
They  urged  me  to  accompany  them  in  their  re- 


x\i 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


V)l 


mov.il  to  Canada,  and  cast  in  aiy  lot  witli  theirs. 
Wliai  l)etter  could  I  do?  Of  my  own  family, 
not  one  advised  my  remaining  in  Englanl.  I 
accepted  my  dear  friend's  offer  —  and  tlius  it 
has  come  to  pass  that  we  meet  once  more." 

Wliether  Philip  and  Mary  Ashton  understood 
all  the  interesting  addresses  given  on  that 
occMsion  may  be  doubted. 

"  I  say,  Harry,"  cried  Charley,  some  days 
after  this,  "  I  am  so  glad  that  Phil  is  going  to  be 
married.  That  Mary  is  a  nice  girl,  and  she  will 
make  some  amends  for  Sophy  having  gone  away. 
Not  that  she  is  likely  to  be  up  to  her  —  I  should 
like  to  see  the  girl  who  could  be." 

A  short  time  after  the  family  were  reunited  at 
Ashton  Clearing,  to  which  Philip  had  brought 
his  wife,  Charley  acknowledged  that  if  not 
superior  she  was  fully  equal  to  Sophy.  Harry 
had  made  up  his  mind  that  no  employment  was 
superior  to  that  of  a  settler;  and,  anxious  to 
resume  it,  he  studied  very  hard  while  at  college, 
and   took  a  most  creditable  decree.     The  farm 


i  M 


irss* 


158 


The  Log  House; 


\ 


had  now  grown  into  a  very  pretty  little  estate, 
to  which  the  name  of  Ashton  was  universally 
given.  Cottages  had  been  erected  on  the 
proj)erty,  and  had  been  eageily  taken  by  new 
comers.  Saw  Jind  grist  mills  had  been  built  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  many  other  houses  and 
cottages.  Harry  had,  with  father's  assistance, 
purchased  a  good-sized  farm  near  Ashton,  and 
had  secured  another  for  Charley,  so  that  I  hey 
might  be  near  their  father  to  render  him  the 
assistance  he  required. 

His  family  had  long  known  what  had  been 
Philip's  secret  wish.  They  now  unanimously 
assured  him  that  he  might  properly  follow  it, 
and  entreated  him  to  do  so.  It  was  to  enter  the 
ministry.  A  church  was  required  at  Ashton  — • 
the  funds  were  forthcoming:  —  before  it  ,vaa 
completed,  Philip  was  ordained  and  became  its 
minister.  Few  rejoiced  as  much  as  his  devoted 
wife  at  seeing  his  talents  employed  in  the  nol>lest 
cause  in  which  a  human  beinii"  can  euira-'-e. 

There  was  one  cloud  in  Mary  Ashton's  other- 


Or,  Adventures  in  Canada. 


159 


wise  serene  life  —  not  one  of  her  family  wrote 
to  her,  and  she  could  hear  nothing  about  them. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashton  had  their  hearts  gladdened 
with  a  visit  from  their  sailor  son  Leonard,  now  a 
lieutenant,   his    ship   having   come    to    Quebec. 
From  him  Philip  .first  heard  of  the  fate  of  any  of 
the   John    Ashtons.     •»  I   was   surprised,"   said 
Leonard,  **to  hear  among  a  batch  of  lads  just 
joined,   the   name  of  Thomas  Ashton.     He  was 
not  a  prepossessing    youth,     but    as    he    had 
evidently    had   a   better    education     than     the 
generality  of  those  who  enter  the  service,  he  had 
a  fair  prospect   of    doing   well   if    he   behaved 
properly.     He  did  not  though,  and  was  constantly 
in  scrapes,  drunk,  and  disorderly.     He  was  under 
confinement  for  such  offences,  when  he  caught 
the  fever  in  the  West  Indies.     The  surgeon  came 
one  day  and  said  that  he  was  very  ill  and  wished 
to  see  me.     I  of  course  went  to  the  lad,  who 
then  told  me  that  he  knew  who  I  was  —  that  he 
was    the   son   of    John    Ashton    who   got   our 
property.     It  was  dreadful  to  hear  him  speak  of 


'  I 


!it 


HI 


'<\i 


1 ; 


i  i 


ii  il 


f 


160 


2^he  Lay  Houae  ; 


his  f  ithor  who  had  cheated  us  he  declared,  and 
cheated  all  his  family,  and  every  body  else. 
He  seemed  to  consider  that  he  had  a  chxim  on 
me  in  consequence  of  our  relationship.  I  did  all 
I  could  for  him  by  procuring  him  better  attend- 
ance than  he  would  otherwise  have  had,  and  by 
shifting-  him  into  comfortable  quarters  where  he 
would  get  the  benefit  of  pure  air.  He  soon 
began  to  mend,  and  then  I  took  the  liberty  of 
reading  him  some  serious  lectures  as  to  his  past 
conduct  and  scandalous  mode  of  life.  He  took 
my  reproof  in  good  part ;  and  you  will  be 
pleased  to  hear  that  when  he  was  at  length 
restored  to  health,  he  became  quite  a  new  man 
—  scrupulously  faithful  in  discharge  of  his  duty, 
sober  to  abstinence,  and  cheerfully  obedient  to 
orders.  He  has  had  a  narrow  escape  from  death, 
and  is,  I  trust,  thankful  to  God  that  he  was  not 
cut  off  suddenly  in  his  mad  career.  He  is 
grateful  to  me  for  the  service  I  rendered  him  — 
says,  indeed,  that  I  saved  his  life  ;  I  shall  <ake 
advantage  of  that  feeling  to  keep  him  right,  if 


Or^  Adventures  in  Canada, 


IGl 


T  can.  T  liave  trusted  him  with  some  rcsponsi- 
bi  ity  cliiiiFig  my  absence,  and  if,  on  my  ivtiini, 
1  liiid  he  has  done  well,  that  will  alTord  me  a 
pictext  for  helpin;^  him  forward,  which  it  would 
give  me  real  pleasure  to  do," 


Pliillp  had  little  doubt  but  that  his  father  and 
he  had  been  deprived  of  their  property  by  un- 
fair means,  though  he  never  even  breathed  such 
an  idea  to  his  wife.  He  is,  however,  able  to 
assure  her,  with  all  sincerity,  that  he  does  not 
regret  its  loss,  .and  that  he  is  convinced  that  his 
father  is  happier  with  his  children  collected 
around  him,  and  all  actively  employed,  than  he 
would  have  been  had  he  retained  his  wealth  and 
lived  on  in  the  world  of  fashion. 

Two  of  Mary's  brothers  found  their  way 
almost  in  rags  to  Ashton,  having  in  vain  endeav- 
ored to  find  employment  in  England.  They  ex- 
pressed themselves  ready  to  work,  and  Harry 
and  Charley  afforded  them  some  practical  lessons, 


r 


I   3i 


1G2 


The  Lo(/  House, 


^vlliuh  ciiiiblcd  tliera  to  begin  with  advantarje. 
At  lirst  they  eoinpUiined  that  their  Hiuhs  iielied 
terril)ly  ;  but  in  a  short  time  they  hud  to  coiilV'sH 
tiiiit  food  honestly  gained  by  hard  hihor,  was  lar 
ph':^santer  than  tlie  \r'^w^  f  kllene  s.  'i'ley 
I)eisevered,  and  in  tho  <;;uu  e  of  a  few  years 
were  able  to  purchase  hind  th;  .iselves.  They 
are  now  hard  at  work  clearing  it,  and  bid  fair  to 
become  useful  members  of  society. 

Philip  Ashton's  sons  will,  undoubtedly,  secure 
indepeiulence ;  and  will,  probably,  from  their 
known  integrity  and  energy,  be  employed  in  some 
of  the  more  important  offices  of  the  State. 
Indeed,  tliey  all  look  back  with  pleasure  to  the 
day  when  they  took  up  their  abode  iu  "  The 
Log  House." 


i 


Thk  Stokv  f)F  E.vor.Hii   TiiTrrtAri-UF:  Fou  Tot'\o   Pr,o- 
i'LK.     liy  LiK-y  <-'"cil  Wiit.' (Mr>.    Lilli<).     Fully  illii>!;M- 
t(!tl    willi    |tl)^t^;lit^^    iiiul  views    of  cclclirnti'd  >i)iiis.      li'iiio. 
B'Htnii:  D.  L<»ilin»|)  &  Co.     Price,  $;I.:i."), 
Till  •    ;i  l»Mi)k  \vlii(tli   slioi'ld  ihul  a  phict    in  iho  Hhrjiry  oi 
every  I      isehoM.     It  Is  iri)>,\  tiic  pen  of  :i  di^tinmiislieil  l;i(ly 
now  ill    i!]ni,'l;in(l,  who  has    peculiar  uilvaii  agi.'N  for  iiiakiii]^ 
it  not  I     ly  iMltirestl.ii^,  but  reliable.    It  is  nut  a  "  pi'.'keil-Mj)'' 
booi{,  ;i  istily  ^  ut  tos^cither,  aiul  made  ')iily  to  sell,  but  a  caro- 
fal,  tli'iouudi  eompilatiou  of  facts,  written   ni  a  faschjatini; 
u'ld  a,r(H;al)lo  iuann<'r,  jr   I   in   a  style  especially  adapted   to 
the  tast(;s  of  .,0111.4  readers.     Although  coinpreheiisivt!  in  its 
scopt!  it  is  not  wearisome  in  detail.     It  contains  interesting 
skeielies  of  Chaucer,  Spenser,  l>,ieon,  Shakespejire,  JJeii  Jon- 
son,  and  many  oIIkm'  distin.uui>lied  writers,  with  a  i^reat  deal 
of  inlerestinjjj  information  al)oiit,   men  and   manners  of  vari- 
ous  times.     The    illustrations  ar<!   particularly  fine,  and   in- 
clude portraits   of  the   piin(;ipal    cliaraclers,  with   views  of 
historical  buildin,i;s  and  jtlaees. 

Ovkimiiiad:  What  IfAiMtY  axd  Xelfa'  Discovkkkd  in 
TUi';  IIiivVK.NS.  Illustrated,  (Quarto.  Illuminated  cover. 
Boston:  \).  i.othrop  &  Co.  Price,  .>;1.()0. 
In  this  charmin!4  little  voluuK!  Iht;  author  undertakes  to 
teach  the  rudiments  of  a-tronomy  to  chiklren,  williout  inak- 
im^  it  sciem  like  study.  It  is  written  in  conversational  style, 
lluj  (haracMers  consist ini^  of  Professor  \Vill(»u^l»l)y  and  sev- 
(!ral  of  his  yoiniLj  friends.  In  tluM'ourseof  tliese  conversa- 
tions a  description  of  the  starry  heavens  is  j^iven,  the  pecu- 
liarities of  the  heavenly  Ixidies  are  desci-ibed,  ancl  tlie 
plantmtary  system  explained,  to.uelher  with  its  various 
phenomena.  All  this  is  done' so  easily  and  naturally  that  at 
the  close  of  the  book  tin;  children  find  that  Ihey  have  learned 
a  i;reat  deal  of  astronomy  without  knowini;  it.  Tlu!  text  of 
the  l)ook  is  greatly  aided  by  the  illustrations,  of  whieli  there 
are  many.  A  thorouiiii  pt-rusal  of  its  p.i'^es  will  i^'wo,  young 
readi'is  a  l)ett(U'  idea  of  !be  distant  woilds  above  and  around 
them  th. in  tlie  studv  of  a  dry  text  book  for  an  entire  term. 
Prof.  Wahb),  of  tlie  Camltridixe  ()l)-('i'vatory,  fuinislies  a 
pie  sant  introduction,  iu  wbicli  lie  indorses  the  book  from  a 
scientific  standpoint. 

SiDXEY  MviiTrx's  CimmTMAS.  By  Pansy.  Larije  lOmo., 
(inO  paues.  Fully  illustrated.  Boston:  I).  Lothrop  ct:  Co. 
Price,  $1.50, 

Of  the  multitudes  of  story  books  brought  out  for  the 
iKjliday  season  none  will  be  more  sought  after  by  yount; 
readeis  than  this,  one  of  Mrs.  Alden's  latest  works.  It  con- 
sists of  a  series  of  stories  wiitten  witli  a  .special  ada]»fatioii 
to  the  season,  and  all  of  them  arc;  specially  suited  to  cosy  fire- 
side roadini?.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  "Pansy"  has  never 
written  a  dull  nor  uninterestinu:  slory,  ami  the  present  col- 
lection is  made  up  of  her  sprigbtliest  and  best  efforts.  It  U 
prtateU  011  clear  white  paper,  and  la  beautifuDy  bouud. 


!■;     ! 


4t 


J    ' 


■ 


i 


Torxo   Folkh'  ITistoky  of  r.j'KKCK.    Ty  Cli.irlotto  M. 

Yoiii,'*'.     liostoii:  I),  J.utljioi)  A- < 'i>.     I'lic*',  si..v>. 

TImj  s('ot)iul  voluiiK!  of  Misrt  YoiiLtf's  scritis  of  lli^torios  for 
Yniiii!^  I'eoplo  tuUcs  up  a  recce,  uiul  (Uials  witli  il  in  an  r-x- 
C(»fMliiii;ly  iiitiiresting  iniiiiiKM*.  Tlu;  author  iiijikcs  the  ni- 
toinpt  to  trace  the  story  of  tliat  country  of  poiUry  aiul  faltlo 
HO  as  to  be  intclljgi!.>lu  to  tliildrcii.  Slie  Ix'iiiii.s  with  sonu;  of 
tho  best  kuuv/n  of  tlie  GrtM-U  iiivtb>,  wbicli  sb(?  coii>i(l('is 
al)s()lutely  necessary  to  the  understandini^  of  both  ibo  his- 
toi-y  and  of  art,  and  tbtMi,  iMkint^  up  tlie  ibretul  of  acUnov  I- 
fdi^ed  history,  follows  it  clown  to  our  day.  Like  the  llhloru 
of  Ucnnany  it  is  very  fully  illustrated,  and  is  bound  in  tlio 
same  style. 

Tjmtk  Hlue.     By  Mrs.  Lucia  Chase  Bell.     Larc;e  Ifinio.  10 

illustrations    by   Merrill.       Boston:    D.    Lotluop  ct   Co. 

i'rico  *i;1.2r). 

This  is  a  (hiliixlitfiil  story  for  fj^irls,  and  promises  to  bo  as 
popular  as  any  of  Miss  Alcott's  productions.  The  scene  is 
laid  in  the  far  west,  and  tlu;  incidt-nts  are  such  as  could  only 
o('(;iw  in  a  newly-<levelope(|  country,  wher*'  even  children  aio 
lauu'hl  to  (leptMid  ui)on  tluMnselves.  '"Doc,"  the  warni- 
heafied,  impulsive  heroine  of  the  story,  is  an  original  char- 
acler.  and  one;  whose  ways  arc;  well  worth  copyiiijj;  by  those 
who  read  her  advtMitiin's  and  experienc(!s,  Tlic  book  shows 
how  mucli  can  be  accomplished  in  a  commnnity  by  earnest, 
delermined  endeavor  on  the  part  of  a  single  one  of  itsnuMU- 
beis,  (!veu  if  tbat  niemlxir  is  a  youni;  ,!L,drl. 

Trno  Blue  ou^ht  to  become  a  staudard  boolc  in  every  girl's 
libiary. 

CiiTT,!)  ToiLEHS  OF  BosTON  Sthekts.    Bv  Emma  E.  Brown. 

With  12  pictures  drawn  from   lile   by  KalberiiK!   I'eirson. 

Quarto,  with  illuminated  board  covers.     Boston:  D.  Lotii- 

r(»p  tt  ( 'o.  lMic(!  oOc. 

Here  is  a  book  which  sliould  be  read  by  every  Boston  boy 
and  ^\v\,  to  say  iu)tbin<f  of  the  boys  ami  uirls  who  havtMiever 
been  in  Boston,  and  wlio  would  like  to  know  something; 
about  the  various  ways  in  which  i>o()r  children  manage  to 
make  a  livin.n  for  tbejuselves  and  those  depending  upon 
lluun.  Miss  lirown,  the  author,  personally  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  the  children  liere  (h'scribcd,  saw  them  at  their 
Avork,  visited  them  at  their  homes,  and  saw  bow  they  lived. 
What  she  learned  during  these  visits  is  very  interestingly 
tohl,  and  will  give  young  readers  who  are  betttM*  oil'  a  fair 
idea  of  the  daily  life  of  tlie  working  poor,  and  the  trials  and 
troubles  through  which  they  have  to  pass.  Ilumhle  as  some 
of  the  occupations  are  which  are  here  described,  the  example 
of  industry  and  economy  set  by  certain  of  those  who  foHovy 
them  might  be  prolitably  imitated.  The  illustrations  by 
Miss  Poirsou  add  to  the  beauty  and  interest  of  the  book. 


TiiK  si:vi:n  \V!)RI)s  from  the  cross. 

By  Rf!V.  \Vir,[,iA.M  U.  Adams.    Trico,  $1.00.    lJt»>li>ii  :   I). 
l.oLlii'ip  cV  Ct». 

Tlu!  jvutlior  luis  ti'i'iitcd  tlioso  discourses  in  ;m  c»ii';in;il 
maiinrr,  .111(1  from  (ir-t  to  lasl  lin-y  arc  rtiloltiit  \vi;!i  tliu 
spii'it.  of  Iliin  who  liung  upon  the  cross. — X,  V.  ()I)S(  rccr. 

Those  rorniitus,  upoji  tlic  most  ijn[>rossive  \vi>rtls  that 
droi);i('d  from  tiic  Master's  li[)s,  an;  at  once  pr.iciioal  and 
cl()f|iicnt.  Th(^  vohiiue  will  he  welcomed  by  both  profession- 
al and  lay  readers. — ZIduh  Ihrdld. 

In  stylo  snn|ilo.  fervid  and  fresh,  avo  doubt  not  that  those 
di-c()ur>es  Vtiil  pi-ove  si)iritualiy  i|uiekenini^  to  all  who  may 
nad  them. — Itin-.lon  Daily  Adi'rrtiscr. 

As  spiritual,  tender,  reverent,  suggestive  meditations  upon 
the  mo>t  sacifd  of  all  llu  ines,  these  discourses  will  be  fuuud 
peculiarly  helpful. — T/ir  AJvanc,  Chicago. 

They  are  full  of  sacred  suggestiveness,  and  cannot  fail  to 
quiclvon  th(;  lov(3  and  encourage  the  faith  of  all  who  read 
them. — C'Ju'istlan  at,  »r'>/7i. 

A  most  vivluablo  addition  to  our  devotional  literadu'o. 
Prepai'ed  for  saei\uneiital  occasions,  it  breathes  tiu;  veiy 
.spirit  of  sacramental  devotion.  The  beauty  of  style  is  com- 
bined with  nnich  clearness  of  thought,  and  there  is  a  tend<n- 
ncss  of  ai»pliealion  that  will  maUe  them  most  precious  to  the 
tempted,  doubting,  or  nioiwuing  Cinistiau. —  Th^  Earncut 
Worker,  (r;'e>byteri!in)  Riclnnond,  Ya. 

Full  of  spiritual  food,  of  truth,  suggestion  and  pure  Chris- 
tian sentiment.  It  is  well  written,  and  in  every  respect  a 
commendable  volume. — Northern  Christian  Advocate,  Syra- 
cuse, X.  Y. 

Those  who  love  to  linger  around  the  Cross  will  fiiul  hero 
seven  golden  censers  full  of  sweet  incense  for  their  altars. 
Tliesi!  sweet  spices  were  expressed  from  the  woids  of  the  dy- 
ing Saviour  by  careful  thought,  which,  passing  through  the 
warm  atmosphei-e  of  a  loving  heart,  exhale  in  delightful 
odors. — Charleston,  {S.C.)  News  and  Courier. 

Excellent  reading,  specially  good  for  meditative  hours. — 
National  S.  S.  Teacher. 


i    I'- 


LiN'Kfl  IN  T^r.nrrrs's  Liri:.  T.y  "  Piinsy."  Trier*,  $1.50. 
nostoii:  D.  Lotlirop  *fc  Co. 

•' Tunpy  "  lias  no  rival  as  an  author  ')f  llio  host,  class  of 
Suud  ly-.'chool  l)ool;s.  Ilci-  "  K^ttr  IvitMl"  and  "Chaulauqiia 
Girls"  scries  iirn  modnis  in  that  important  lineof  literature. 
Iler  naw  l)oo!<,  "  Links  in  lielM-eea's  Life,"  is  worthy  of  a 
l)l:ice  ill  tho  .'-aino  list.  This  l)oolv  is  an  admirable  one.  Its 
toiu!  is  he.ilLliy  and  stimulating;,  without  a  trace  of  senti- 
ni'iitali-iu  or  cant:  and  its  characters  anMhoroui^lily  natu- 
ral, such  as  any  reader  ran  recognize  in  tlie  con)?nii»iity  in 
whieh  he  li.-qipeiis  to  live.  The  heroine,  Rc'-ecca,  Is  intens(>- 
ly  human,  wilh  a  noble  natun?  in  wl'lcii  many  weaknesses 
hi(|(>  tliemselvcs  and  eonn^  .'  ften  to  the  surface.  But  she  is 
a  Christian  of  the  best  t vj.e,  and  her  aspirations  and  haiil- 
fought  bailies  ill:  ;.ir.!  cnllmsiasm  in  a  reader.  The  Com- 
mittee on  Iiite'"  alloual  Lessons  couldn't  do  a  bettc^r  thing 
than  to  eiic';:ate  this  bonk  in  every  part  f)f  the  land.  It 
shows  how  the  lessons  may  be  made  hel[)ful  in  the  daily 
life,  and  how  tin?  Old  Testament  may  b(>  taught  with  in- 
terest to  an  Infant  School,  or  to  men  and  women  of  every 
congregation. 

Eciioixo  AND  nr:-Ef  iioixo.  V^y  Fni/r  TTuntinf/ton.  Price 
$L50.     Boston:  I).  Lothrop  &  Co.,  publisliers. 

It  shows  great  ignoraTiee  of  the  Sunday-school  literaturo 
of  our  day,  when  one  c;iMs  it  weak  and  nainby-sttiff,  wiili  an 
eqnal  mixture  of  love-stories,  and  impossible  adventures. 
The  censure  is  just  for  a  certain  class  of  books,  but  a  largo 
library  nnvy  be  gathered  of  first-class  works  admirable  ;  like 
in  mcral  tone  and  in  literary  execution,  books  which  every- 
bod\  :an  read  with  delight  and  profit,  "Echoing  and  IJe- 
cchoing"  is  a  book  of  this  sort,  a  well-told  story,  aboii.idir.g 
■wit'.;  nraeiieal  lessons,  and  inciting  to  a  noble  Christiiui  lifr. 
The  most  intelligent  opponent  of  religions  novels  will  find 
his  prejudiees  giving  way  in  reading  it,  and  a  fastidious  lit- 
erary reader  will  bo  thankful  that  children  have  such  good 
books  for  moulding  their  literary  tastes. 


'-5 
It 


B/nT  HrvTixo.  .Short  Storlos  wl'h  Bright  Pictures,  fly 
the  |{t>t  Americiiii  Authors.  Jiustoii;  1).  LolUroi)  &  C'<>. 
Price,  $I.<K). 

Jlahif  Ihinihi'j  Is  a  hciiitiftil  quarto  \\\\\\  ono  of  tlio  most 
attraciivt!  (mi>i(l('s  we  li;iv<!  sccii  for  a  jnn'^  tiiuf.  It  h  iiiado 
tip  of  clinict;  stories  adapftMl  to  tho  readiii!.^  of  clilldreii  from 
four  to  ci'^lit,  years  of  a'4(^  Tliey  an^  :ill  short,  f«'\v  of  ihem 
hi'inu  ov(;r  a  yrnw  \\i  length,  ai.d  eacii  is  accompanied  by  a 
full  pa<;(!  oiii^ravltig.  It  is  jii»t  the  Ixiud  uf  buolc  that  ought 
to  ijti  popular,  and  undoubtedly  will  be. 

Torxa^ Folks'  History  of  Okumaxy.    By  Charlotte  M. 

Von;;^^    Bo.sLou:  1).  Lothrop  &  i\).     I'ricc  $1.50. 

This  liaiidsome  volume  is  tlie  first  of  a  series,  which  will 
include  the  principal  countries  of  Europe,  tlie  euccecding 
numbers  of  whlcli  will  appear  at  brief  intervals.  Miss 
Yonge,  whoso  talents  have  been  exerted  in  various  directions 
f  )r  tlie  beuetit  f»f  young  readers,  lias  been  peculiarly  success- 
Jul  in  tills  series,  wliicli  lias  ha(l  a  very  large  sale  in  Europ(>, 
and  dciiorves  a  like  popularity  here.  It  covers  not  only  tlie 
oiiiire  period  of  German  civilization  down  to  the  present 
time,  but  it  gives  an  account  of  ancient  Germany  and  its  in- 
lial)iiantsin  times  wliich  niiglit  almost  be  called  pre-historic. 
Tiie  lirst,  chapters  jire  explanatory  of  the  German  mythology, 
and  of  tlie  ancient  nuHliods  of  worship.  The  Nibulungen 
Lied  is  described  and  its  story  told.  Tlie  real  history  begins 
about  tlie  year  41Hi  A.  I).,  at  a  time  when  the  Fran l\s  were 
the  victorious  race  in  Europe.  From  that  time  down  to  tlio 
beginning  of  the  pres(!nt  year  the  record  is  coutlnuous.  The 
volume  is  profusely  illustrated. 

IIapfy  Moods  of  Happy  Children.  Original  Poeras. 
\\y  favorite  Amoricau  authors.  Boston:  D.  Lothrop  & 
Co.     Price  $1.00. 

We  venture  to  say  that  no  publishing  house  in  the  country 
will  issue  this  season  anything  choicer  in  the  way  of  a  pre- 
sentation byok  of  poems  than  tliis  ch.arming  volume.  The 
poems  it  contains  were  written  expressly  for  Mr.  Lothrop, 
and  liave  never  before  been  brought  together  in  collected 
form.  Among  the  authors  represented  are  Elizabeth  Siii.ut 
Phelps,  Clara  Doty  Bates,  Margaret  G.  Preston,  Ellu  Fiiriiian, 
Mrs.  Piatt,  Hiirriet  McEweii  Kimbull,  M;irv  A.  L;itlii)iirv, 
Nora  P<'rry,  Mrs.  L.  C.  Whiton,  Celia  Thuxier.  Edgir  Fi  w- 
c<!lt,  and  many  others.  ^though  the  volume  is  osteii.-ddy 
preferi'od  for  cliildren,  it;  one  wliich  grown-up  people  wiii 
e(]U;illy  enjoy.  There  are  ;i  scorci  or  more  of  illiistralion* 
moat  of  them  f ull-pa^u,  exc^i  itiitely  drawu  and  engraved. 


Amy  and  Maiuox's  Voyaor  AiiorNn  the  World.  By 
IS;ir;vli  H.  Adiuu.s.  1j().>L(jii:  I).  Li»ihr.»p  «&  Co.  lOiuo.  IJ'JO 
pages  $l.:ir>. 

This  liM.idsotno  volimif,  from  tii!^  vow  of  thr;  dfniL'Titcf  cf 
a  (lisliimiii^lii''!  lJi)>l(iii  ell  !-u\ '.iiaii,  is  iIk;  v(H'{tr(l  ot"  :i  !!■:,• 
aroiiiul  till!  uorl(i  in  an  East  intlia  incrcliantinan.  made  .i  \(  ;.!• 


li 


or  t\v«)  .sin('(>  l»y  *  wo  youui;  ladies,  oiio  (u  Wiioni  was 
aiiilior.  Sailing"  fi'Min  Boston,  tlio  lir>t  land  tonclnMl  was 
San  Fjvincisco.  From  Liic.io,  after  a  brief  stay,  the  voyag«'i.s 
l)r(»ered»;(l  to  Ilonoliihi,  tlicnce  to  the  Chinese  coast,  wIkkj 
lh(!  cities  of  llong  Kong,  Canton,  Singii»ore,  Amoy,  Shang- 
hai and  Macao  wen;  visited  in  tnrn.  The  sliip  then  sailed 
for  the  Philippine!  Islands;  and  at  Manila,  ouv.  of  the  loveliest, 
and  most  pictnies(ni(!  cities  of  the;  .Southern  I'acilic,  two  or 
three  happy  weeks  were  spent.  From  that  pori.  the  home- 
ward coiu'se  was  takiMi.  the  vessel  doul)ring  the  Cajie  o'' 
(ioitd  Hope  and  -ailing  np  the  African  coast.  The  story  of 
the  voyage  is  gracefully  and  vividly  told.  The  jolly  tinu.'s 
on  shijihoard;  the  sights  seen  from  deck;  rough  weather 
exjierieiu'es;  the  excursions  made  at  tlu;  various  stopping 
places,  and  iht^  advenlnres  and  nii>advei,tnres  attendant 
upon  then!;  \ho.  sccner\,  customs  of  tlit^  different  pe(>pio 
"vi-iied,  togi'ther  with  innumerahh!  incidents  of  tlu' trip,  are 
d<'scril)ed  with  a  freshin-ss  and  vigor  which  icndc  r  (fveiy 
pau(*  of  th(!  book  thoi'on'.;liiy  tMijoyaUle,  I'Ik!  illustrations 
which  accompany  tin;  texl  ar<!  made  donl»ly  interesting  from 
the  fact  that  they  are  engraved  fi'oiu  photographs  procured 
on  tiie  spot  and  brought  home  by  the  author. 

Jksi's,  IiOVF:ii  Of  My  Son,.  ExqiiUitely  illustrated,  Aii 
tJegant  small  (Quarto  glfl-l)ool<.  (Jilt  ediies,  A  compan- 
ion Volume  to  *'  The  Ninety  and  Nine."  Boston:  D.  Loth- 
rop  tk  Co.     Price,  i^^  1.(10. 

There  !•<  no  more  beautiful  hymn  in  the  English  language 
than  the  one  w  hich  furnishes  the  title  of  this  «'xquisili!  little 
volume.  !Many  readers  will  remciMber  the  affecting  story  of 
the  wreck,  where  onec^  the  lady  passengers,  cut  off  from  all 
hope  of  escape,  clinging  to  a  rock  from  which  every  wave 
tlwealened  to  tear  her  hold,  poureil  out  lu'r  soul  in  these 
sweet  words  of  trust.  Tluj  artist,  ]\Ir.  Robert  Lewis,  has 
Seized  upon  tliis  incident  as  the  subject  of  one  of  his  most, 
ciYective  drawings.  Th(>  entire!  series  of  illnsti'atlcns  are  ex- 
ceodingly  line,  the  wo:k  of  Mi.  Lewis  as  draughlsjnan  hav- 
ing been  ably  sui)p!einente(/  by  that  of  Mr.  Dana  as  the  en- 
graver. The  volume  forms  a  be;iiitiful  presentation  book, 
and  though  <'(pially  attractive  with  the  three  and  five  dollar 
volumes  which  fill  tlic  counters  of  our  bookstor(!s,  is  sold  at 
the  nominal  pric»!  of  one  dollar,  'i'lu!  inteiest  of  the  work  is 
larely  added  to  by  an  eUxjuent  preface  from  the  pen  of  the 
Rev.  \V.  B.  Wriglit,  of  the  Berkeley  Street,  Church, 


By 


.,f 


"That  I3oy  or  Newkirk's."    By  L.  Bates.  Boston:  D. 
Luihrop  &  Co.    Price,  $1.25. 

Anollier  good  book  of  the  li.ulit  tj'pe,  with  cjoimino  boys, 
full  of  life,  uiul,  tberi-foic,  full  of  fun,  cmuci  for  lth•ll^ul<•, 
iind  oxijosed  to  sharp  perils,  i'lie  inonil  i.>  >iui[)le  nud  tells 
ilx'if,  witliout  any  prt'iu'liinij;  by  tlie  iUilhnr,  tliat  a  C'l^■i^tiau 
hoUK",  wiLh  an  atmo^pbore  of  lovt;.  i.s  »  inagnet  to  hoidai)oy 
to  a  pure  life.  Gordon  Fijrrii,  nurtured  in  such  a  home, 
grows  naturcdly  to  a  nobk;  inanbocnl,  and  bcconu's  a  hel|irr 
to  other  boys  less  favoreil.  'I'lu;  story  brings  out,  also,  w  iih 
great  l>eanty,  the  power  oi  genuine  sympaiby  in  reeoverinij 
the  vicious,  and  the  nature  of  true  i»iely  in  l)egetting  sueii 
loving  sympathy.  Tbe  st<»ry  is  well  told,  the  cbaraet«'r.s 
clearly  drawn,  and  lln^  book  will  be  suro  to  interest  readers, 
and  inspire  them  with  higher  aims  in  life. 

Carrie  Ellsworth:  or  Skkd  Soavino.  By  W.  O.  Johnson. 
Boston:   U.  Lothroi)  &  Co.     I'riee,  $1.25. 

Carrie  Ellsworth  is  a  pleasant  book  to  read,  and  its  influ- 
ence hangs  about  one  like  tbe  fragrance  of  luscious  fruit. 
It  Is  a  quiet  story,  with  no  extraordinary  incidents  or  cbar- 
acfers,  but  teacbing  in  a  winning  way  how  girls  naluially 
imptilsive  and  tboughtless  may  take  on  resolute  purposes, 
and  overcome  tbe  weaknesses  that  tbreaten  to  maim  life. 
Goo<l  home  and  Sabbatb  school  teacbing  inspire  good  aims  ; 
and  every  day  endeavors,  though  often  balUetl,  gradually 
bring  slrengtii  and  victory.  It  ougbt  to  be  a  favorite  book, 
for  ii  deals  with  people  tbat  everybody  knows,  and  with  in- 
cidents of  daily  occurrence. 

BABYLi».ND.    Boston :  D  Lothrop  &  Co.    Bound  vol.  75c. 

This  is  one  of  the  channingesf  of  tbe  many  cbarmlng 
books  for  the  little  ones  published  by  thi.s  house.  Baiiies  are 
C'-itics  in  their  way,  and  know  rigbt  well  wbether  wbat  Is 
writieu  for  and  read  and  sung  to  tbem  Is  genuine  baby  liter- 
ature or  make-l)elieve.  Every  line  in  this  volume  was  writ- 
ten by  bners  of  the  little  ones,  who  kni>w  just  what  lluy 
like  and  can  appreciate.  Tbe  stories  are  such  as  innumera- 
ble mannnas  will  have  to  read  ami  re-reail  and  read  auain, 
while  the  verses  will  becom<!  as  familiar  in  nurseries  a>  the 
choicest  rhymes  of  Mother  Goose.  Such  are  the  verses 
ahout  "Naughty  Susie,"  ''Baby's  Complaint,"  "Washing 
Day,"  olc.  Tbe  illuminated  cover  displays  a  choice  selec- 
>'ou  of  "babies,  doing  all  sorUJ  of  things. 


m 


Little  Miss  Mischief  and    her   Happy    Thoughts. 

Adapted  from  the  French  of  P.  J.  Stalil  by  Ella  Farman. 

Boston:  D.  Lolhrop&  Co.     Prico,  7')  (•t^^. 

In  a  soiies  of  capitally  drawn  !?k«!l('lio.s  the  artHt  fells  t'lio 
story  (assisted  l;y  tlu;  antlior)  of  a  niiscjiicn'ous  little  i,Mrl  ulio 
undertook  while  her  mother  was  c<»nllned  to  her  room  by  ill- 
ness, to  set  things  to  riiihts  ,ti<'nerally  abont  the  house.  She 
paints  mustaches  on  a  portrait  which  her  artist  papa  has  just 
finished;  tiies  to  color  the  lap-do.u's  faee  black  wi!h  ink  and 
spills  it  over  herself  and  the  floor;  attempts  to  wash  her 
papa's  gray  hatMith  the  iid^y  sponge;  breaks  the  mantel 
clock  in  trying  to  wind  it;  pours  boiling  water  into  the  gl<>l)e 
of  gold  fish  to  make  them  more  comfortable;  cuts  off  the 
Corners  of  her  mamma's  nice  shawl  so  it  will  not  drag  in  the 
Ptn-et,  and  does  a  variety  of  other  things  whieh  no  one  hut 
an  idl((  and  inquisitive  little  girl  would  ever  think  of  doing. 
The  book  is  printed  on  fine  paper,  with  double  line  border 
about  every  page. 

Little  Miss  Muslin.  Her  Fortunfs  and  Misfortunes. 

]?y  .Tohij  Hrownjohn,     Boston:  D.  Lothrop  &  Co.     50  cts. 

Everybody  has  read  and  laughed  over  the  adventures  of 
Miltiades  Peterkin  Paul,  which  were  brought  out  in  a  taste- 
ful quarto  vohune  last  lioliday  season.  Miltiades,  it  appears, 
had  a  cousin,  a  charming  young  lady  f)f  six  or  seven,  who, 
although  city  born  and  bred,  possessed  certain  peciiliarities 
whieh  rendered  their  companionship  congenial.  Miss  Mus- 
lin, for  that  was  her  nanie,  was  contiiuially  doing  something 
to  get  herself  or  some  one  else  into  a  scrape.  Her  experi- 
ences after  a  time  were  varied  by  a  visit  to  Miltiades  in  the 
country.  The  troubles  they  get  themselves  into  and  what 
was  said  and  done  about  them  are  told  in  detail  l)y  the  author 
in  the  same  offhaiul,  humor  us  style  hi  which  the  adventures 
of  Miltiades  were  clironicled.  The  diawings  are  from  the 
pencil  of  Livingston  Hopkins,  one  of  the  best  American 
caricaturists.  The  volume  is  got  up  as  a  companion  to  the 
hook  of  last  year. 

Music  For  Our  Darlings.  Edited  by  Dr.  Eben  Tourjee 
Fully  Illustrated.  Boston:  D.  Lothrop^.fe  Co.  Price,  $l."iio. 
Hundreds  of  young  readers  will  remember  the  beautiful 
book  issued  last  year  called  Pocjus  for  Our  Darliiiijs.  It 
proved  so  successful  that,  this  season  the  Messrs.  Lothrop 
have  broughl  out  a  companion  volume  called  Music  for  Our 
7^''r//>'f/.s.  containing  nearly  forty  favorite  pieces  of  mu.sic, 
most  of  them  with  piano  accompaniment  Among  them  are 
"Preltv  Fido."  "Turkey  Somz  for  Thankgivinu,"  "The 
Squirrel.*'  "Gentle  Bobiu  Redbreast,"  ".The  Pvaihvay 
Train,*'  etc.  In  addition  there  are  prefatory  sketches  and 
articles  on  music  by  Prt)f.  Tourjee,  who  edits  the  bu'iks, — 
and  over  fifty  full-page  engravings.  It  is  beautifully  boiiud*. 
in  cloth,  with  black  and  gold  ornamentation. 


io. 


\(>ur 

|i.sic, 

:vro 

IT  he 

jaud 
I' — 


Out  OF  Darkn'Kss  Into  Lioiit.  PyMuy  A,  I^atlibury. 
With  pijilit  niii>t('rly  cliiUMctiT  (lia\viii'L:>.  full  paui-.  with 
pooiiis  aiul  cxt|ui>ifo  viuiu'itcs.  Fine  bimlirii;.  Quarto, 
liostoii:  D.  Lollirop  &  C'o.     I'lico.  .Si  00. 

Wo  liavo  no  lu'silatidii  in  pronouiifiii'jf  lliis  one  of  tho 
most  altf;v;tivo  i)n!stMitatioM  books  wliicli  lias  been  broiiulifc 
out  ill  this  city  for  many  seasons.  Elciiantiy  bound  and  su- 
p(*rbly  illustrated,  displayin;^  tlie  ulniost  ait  <tf  arti-t  and 
printer,  its  iilerary  merit  is  of  the  hiuhest  order.  'JMi«'  au- 
thor, Miss  Mary  A.  Lathbnry,  is  both  artist  and  poet.  In 
the  several  poems  which  iinike  up  the  book  she  traces  tin; 
gradual  comiiiij  out  from  the  thiek  daikness  of  (h)nl)l  and 
untiejiet  into  Mk;  full  l)i-oad  day  of  faith  and  reiiuions  tru>t. 
They  are  sweetly  and  (hdicately  wiitleii,  and  will  aj)poal  to 
many  hearts  wliosc;  experii'necs  liavf  been  similar.  The 
drauinixs  with  which  Mi>s  Lathi)ury  at-eompanies  her  poems 
express  in  form  what  her  pi'U  has  doiu'  in  words.  tSo  full  of 
nn^anin'4  has  she  nnid(!  them  that  they  almost  alom;  tell  the 
story  of  the  doubt,  tin?  slru,Lji,'le,  tlu;  anuuish  ami  the  con\ic- 
th>ii  which  so  nniny  have  experienced  in  their  attempts  to 
attain  to  a  hi'^her  spiritual  life.  The  viirnetles  are  no  less 
artistie  and  e.\:prt^ssive,  each  one  beinj;  cmldfrnatic  of  s<»nio 
sentiment  contained  in  tlie  poem  to  whicli  it  belong:-:.  To 
those  who  ctdehrate  Christmas  as  a  religious  festival  as  well 
as  to  those  who  are  of  a  thoughtful  turn  of  mind,  the  vol- 
ume will  have  a  peiniliar  value.  Most  holiday  volumes  si-rvo 
only  for  the  season  in  which  they  a[)pear.  but  the  om3  l)efore 
lis  possess(!s  those  peculiar  eUiinents  which  make  it  a  staud- 

lime  or  seasons. 


ijy 


apse 


TiiF.  f'lnLDRKX's  Almanac,     Foi:  ls?.t-J^(>-Sl-fi2-8:J.   Edited 
By  Ella  Farman. '  Boston:  1).  LothropcV:  ("o. 

This  unicpK!  little  volume,  which  for  beauty  and  intrinsic 
value  will  compare  with  numy  of  tln'  liiuli-|'nced  annuals, 
contains  peculiai'  attractions  which  will  lender  it  one  of  the 
best  sellini'  books  of  the  season.  'J'lie  calendar  -  which 
reaches  over  five  y»Mrs  —  gives  it  a  vnliie  which  t.lif">  ordinary 
almanac  doijs  not  posse'-s.  Each  month  is  repre-enle(l  by  an 
Oi'iginal  poem  from  the  pen  of  a  ili-t  ingnislied  Anierie;in 
author,  the  list  o>-'  contriliutors  numberin'j,'  sucli  names  as 
Longfellow.  Whittier,  Aldrich.  Celia  Tliaxter.  .Mrs.  A.  1).  T. 
Whitney,  Kdgar  Fawcell,  and  others.  Aecoinpanv  ing  ihe-e 
poems  are  twelve  exquisite  drawings  on  w<»oil  by  Mh^  }li.m- 
phi'ey,  and  four  beam  iful  t'hroino-litho<j.raphs  liy  Miss   Lulb- 


Diiry. 


As  if  th 


t>s<» 


atli.ictions    were   not   enouuli,  ibc  cdih>r 


lias  prepared  twelve  pai^es  of  birthday  niotti»e->  from  ilie 
l)oi!l<<,  making  a  singh'  line  mollo  for  every  day  in  the  year, 
niink  me.noranda  leaves  are  inserti'd  tor  the  benolit  of  liioise 
wli  >  wisli  to  put  down  notes  or  inakP  record   of  daily  occur- 


rences. 


Tw 


o    editions    are    :  — ned. — our.    m    plain   cloth 


at 


.'"i')  cents,  and  the  otlier  witli  »ilver-and-guld  cover  gilt  edges, 
ai  ^1.00. 


rT. 


I-     il 


i 


-  ill 


VI  RCllNFA.     I!y  JK  If.  G.  Kin:;st(m.      i6  nv. 

Iliiislratud    .  .  .  .  .  .  .   ;;.i    J5 

A  .'.iiriii).;     lOry  '-f  ;i(Iven!ilio  upon  siM  n::(I  laii'l. 

AFRKWN  ADVKNTURK  AND  AfUn^XT- 
URLRS.      I]y  Rc7'.   (;.    y;  Day.D.D.      i6 

mo.      llliisl rated  .  .  .  .         -         .      i    f:;o 

The  stniic';  (-f  S):(.ki',  (Iraiit,  I'alaT,  Livinpstonc  and  Statilty 
arc  iMit  ir.to  simpK-  slMri;  for  thj  enicrtaiiimcnt  of  yomi:^'  readers. 

NOIUJ-:  \VT)RR1<:RS.     Ildited  hv  S.  F.  Smifh, 


£).  J).     1611U) ....... 

STORIIOS  ()l<    SUCCKSS.     Edited  hy  S.  F. 
Smith,  D.  D.     iGmo  . 

I ii^.piriut;  LiiH'iaiiliics  and  records  wliicli  leave  a  most  whole- 
some and  enduring  effect  upon  the  reader. 

MYTHS  AND  HKRO?:S.  t6  mo.  Illus- 
trated.    Kdiled  1)V  S.  F  Smith,  D.  D . 

KNIGirrS  AM)  S|;A  KINCiS.  Edited  by 
*S'.  F.  Smith,  J).  J).      121110.      illustrated 

Two  entirt.'.inin;^  '."^ik  .  \vhi<  li  \\\\  fasten  forever  ihe  liistorical 
and  1.%'oviapliical  lessons  &f  tW  school-ruoin  firndy  in  the  sui- 
dcnl's  nuiid. 

CI  I  Al'LlN'S  LIFE  or  r,f:XJAMI\  FRANK- 
LIN.     161110.     llIuslratLd    .  .  .  . 

LIFE  OF  AMOS  LAWRENCE,      i-mo.     111. 

Two  biou:raiihies  of  perennial  vakie.  No  worihier  books  were 
ever  offered  as  holiday  pres(;nts  for  our  A-iericar.  yoiin;:  men. 

WAT/rER  NEAL'S  EXAMPLE.  ]]y  Rev. 
'Fhcron  Bruivn.      16  mo.      Illustrated  . 

Walter  N'oal's  iCxatnple  is  by  Rev.  Theron  Hrown,  the  editor  of 
that  verv  snccessfid  i")aper,  Thi'  ^'o;i!li^ s  ComfxDiion.  The  siory 
is  n  toiirliin;.;  one,  and  i^  in  jiarts  so  vi\id  as  lo  seem  drawn  from 
the  life.  — -V.  ]'.  huii'/'ouit-rit. 

TWO  FORTCXE-SEEKERS.  Stories  by 
Ros  '  v  Johnson,  I.onisc  Chandh:r  Monltun, 
E.  ^.''A-.r/  Fhflps,  FJla  Fiirman,  etc,  W\\\y 
illustrated  ,,.... 


I   5^ 


I  50 


I  25 


I  50 


•J 

If 


awriss  >JTJr,i-A- 

of  our  ir     Icrn  writers. 


E.A.ST2vlA.IT  is  one  of  the  most  jopular 


$1  5^ 


YOUNG  RK^K.    "^s  Julki  A.  Eastman.   Large 
iGnu),     Twelve  illiislratinns  bv  Sol  Kvtiii'ic. 

A  brii'ht,  fascinating  story  of  a  little  boy  wlio  was  both  a  bless- 
ing and  a  bother. —  Boston  yoiirnal. 

The  n\o;it  dc]i;.;hlfui  book  on  the  list  for  he  children  iif  the 
family,  being  full  of  adventures  and  ^^■^\^  home  scenes  and  merry 
play-times.  "Paty"  wnuld  b^ve  <lone  credit  to  iJickens  in  his 
palmiest  days.  Tlic  strani;e  ;j;iows  and  shadows  of  lier  character 
are  jnit  in  lovingly  an  J  lin;.^cria;.:ly,  with  the  pencil  of  a  master. 
Mios  Margaret's  characier  of  light  is  admirably  drawn,  while  Aunt 
Li;.sbia,  Deacon  Ilarkaway,  Tom  liurraiicc,  and  the  master  and 
mistress  of  Graythori)e  poor-house  are  geiuiine  "  charcoal 
sketches." 


STRIKING  FOR  THE  RJGMT.     By  Jnlia 

A.  Eastman.     Lar-i^c  i6!no.      Illustrated       .     i   75 

While  this  story  holds  the  reader  breathless  wi:h  exjiectancy 
and  excitement,  its  civili/.ing  inlliienc^'  in  the  family  is  linrdly  to 
be  estimated.      In  all  {|narters  it  has  met  with  the  warmest  praise. 

THK  ROMNKVS    OF    RIDGEMONT.     By 

jfuUa  A.  Eastman.      lOmo.      Illustrated       .      i   50 

BEULA  H  ROMNEV.     By  Julia  A.  Eastman, 

16  111(3.     Illustrated       ,         .  .  .         .      i   50 

Two  stories  wiindrousiy  alive,  flashing  with  fun,  sjiarkling  with 
tears,  thmbljing  with  emotion.  The  ne.xt  best  thing  to  attending 
Mrs.  Hale's  big  boarding-school  is  to  read  lieulah's  experience 
there. 

SIIORT-COMINGS  AND  LONG-GOINGS. 

Wy  jrulia  A.  Eastman.      161110.     Illustrated,     i   25 

A  remarkabls  book,  crowded  with  remarkable  characters.  It 
is  a  j'.icture  gallerv  of  hmnan  nature. 

KITTY    KENT'S   TROUBLES.      By  Julia 

A.  Eastman.     16  mo.     Illustrated        .         .     i   50 

"A  delicious  April-day  style  of  book,  sunshiny  with  smiles  on 
one  page  while  the  next  is  misty  with  tender  tears.  Almost  every 
type  of  ,\merican  school-girl  is  here  represented—  the  vain  Helen 
Dart,  the  beauty,  .Amy  Searle,  the  ambitious,  high  bred,  conssiv. 
ative  Anna  Matson  ;  but  next  to  Kilty  herself  sunny  little  Paul- 
ine Sedgewick  will  prove  the  general  favorite.  It  is  a  itory  fully 
calculated  io  win  both  girls  and  boys  toward  noble,  royal  ways  of 
doing  little  as  well  as  gj(;at  things.  AH  teachers  should  fte]  an 
iut^^st  in  ]>lawng  it  in  thv  hands  of  tbcir  pupils." 


I'-A.ISTSY'S      3?W.:->I3. 


!'! 


FOUR   (HRLS    AT    (  IIAl   TAl  (^l"A.     Ily 

J\i)isv.      12  nio.     Jlliibtialccl         .  .  .   $i   50 

Til'.:  most  fa'-tin.-iiiii":  "  v.iti'iiiK'-i'liici; "  stciy  ever  i)iibii'>Iiecl. 
Fo'ir  fiiciul;,  l-ulIj  a  brilliant  tiri  in  licr  way,  tired  of  Sarato'^a 
and  X'.wpcut,  try  a  (u.  ti.i  lit  at  tlie  new  snniiner  resort  on  Cliau- 
tauriiia  Lai;;.',  choosing  tjic  time  v.  lien  tin;  National  Sunday-school 
As  i.i.iMy  i  •  in  (.;.ni|).  Rev.  l)r.-.  N'ir.cent,  Di.'cms,  Ciiy'.er,  I>.I- 
ward  L'.;;;.;li'st<)n,  .Mrs.  Emily  Huntington  Miller,  Uiove  iironii- 
iii-ntly  llnouj  h  the  story. 

HOUSKIIOLD;  UZZLES.    l\y  Pansy.    121110. 

Illustrated    .         .  .         .  .  .         .      i   50 

How  to  p.iake  one  dollar  do  the  wf>rk  of  five.  A  family  of 
beantifni  j,ii-.'.  seek  to  sol\e  tlii^  "  pu/zle."  Piciuant,  lummrous, 
but  wriiteii  V.  ith  an  intcm.'e  purpose. 

TH^:  RANDOLPHS.     Wy  Pansy.     121110.     Il- 
lustrated      .         .         .         .         .         .         .     I   50 

.\  se',[uel  Ii>  Household  l*u//.les,  in  which  the  Puz/.les  arc  agree- 
ably tlisposed  of. 

GRANDPAS  DARLINOS.  Va- Pansy.   iGmo. 
Illustrated    ....... 


A  big  bfyok,  full   of  "good  limes"  for  the  little  people  uf  the 
family. 

ESTER  RIKD       .         .         .         .1 
JULIA  RIED         .... 
Tt.  \  EE  PEOPLE      .  . 
THE  Ki-^G'S  DAUGHTER 
WISE  AND  OTHERWISE  . 
CUNNING  WORKMEN 
JESSIE  WELLS    .... 
DOCIA'S  JOURNAL    . 
BERNIE'S  WHITE  CHICKEN    . 
HELEN   LESTER. 
A  CHRISTMAS  TIME 


I  25 


ran 

sy. 

50 

>> 

50 

»> 

50 

>> 

50 

»> 

50 

» 

21; 

» 

75 

» 

75 

>> 

75    . 

>> 

75 

» 

15 

••  IvIISS  I^-A.IS,lvI.A.lT  has  the  ven-  desirabk'  knack  nf  imp:.r,in» 
valuable  idoai  iiiiilor  the  giii-^c  of  a  pleading  ^tory."' — /"'/'■  AV.i'  ( 'cu.'ioy. 

MRS.  IIL'RD'SNIKCE.  V,s EUaFannau.    111.  $i   50 

i\.  tluilliiig  story  for  the  j;irls,  especially  for  those  wlto  ihiiik 
they  have  a  "  niission,"  to  v.  hKini  we  commend  sturdy  Isniilish 
Hannah,  with  lier  small  means,  and  her  grand  success.  Saidcc 
Hurd  ii  one  of  the  sweetest  skirls  ever  embalmed  in  story,  and 
Lois  Gladstone  one  of  the  noblest. 

THE  COOKING  CLL'i]  OF  TU-WHIT 
HOLLOW.  By  Ella  Farvmn.  16  mo. 
Eight  full-page  illustrations  .         .         .         .     i   25 

Worth  readint;  by  all  who  deliyjit  in  domestic  romance.  —  Fall 
River  DaHy  Xcivs. 

The  practical  instructions  in  housewifery,  which  are  abundant, 
are  set  in  the  midst  of  a  bri;4hl,  wholesome  story,  and  the  little 
housewives  who  fv^ure  in  it  arc  ^ood  specimens  of  very  human, 
but  at  the  same  time  very  lovable,  little  American  girls.  It 
ought  to  be  the  most  successful  little  girls'  book  of  the  sear.on. — 
The  Advance. 

ALrnXEWO^L\N.    By  El/a Eammn.   i6m. 

The  daintiest  f)f  all  juvenile  books.  From  its  merry  pages,  win- 
some Kinnie  Crosby  has  stretched  out  her  warm  little  hand  to 
help  thousands  of  young  girls. 

A  WHITE  HAND.   V>y  EllaFannan.  12m.  111. 

A  genuine  jiaintin;.;  of  American  society.  Millicent  and  Jack 
are  drawn  by  a  I'.dd,  firm  hand.  No  one  can  lay  this  story  down 
until  the  last  leaf  is  turned. 


I   0'^ 


SO 


WIDE   A  WAKE. 

AN    ILLUSTRATED    MAGAZINE 

For  the  Young  Folks. 

Edited  by  ELLA  FARMAN. 

Published  by  D.  LOTHKOP  &  CO.,  Boston,  Mass. 

It  always  contains  a  feast  of  fat  things  for  the  little  folks,  and  folks  who  are  no 
longer  liiilo  fmdjthere  lost  childhood  in  its  pages.  We  are  not  saying  too  nuich 
when  we  say  that  its  versatile  editor  —  Klla  Karman,  is  more  fully  at  Imnje 
in  the  child's  wonder-land  than  aiiv  other  living  American  writer.  .She  |» 
thoroughly  <•«  rappo'^t  with  her  read'TS,  gives  them  now  a  sugar  \i\\\\\\  of  poesy, 
now  a  dainty  jelly-cake  of  imagination,  and  cuiininuly  intermixes  all  the  solid 
l)read  of  thought  that  the  child's  mind  can  digest  and  assimilatt. — York  Tru$ 
Dtmocrat. 


IH 


The  $1000  Prize  Series 

Pronounced  by  the  Examining  Committee,  Rrt).  Drs. 

Lincoln^  Rankin  and  Day,  superior  to 

any  similar  series. 


Striking  for  the  Right, 
Silent  Tom,-        -        -        -        - 
Evening  Rest,      -        -        -        - 
The  Old  Stone  House, 
Into  the  Light,   -        -        -        - 
Walter  McDonald,     -        .        - 
Story  of  the  Blount  Family,    - 
Mak^aret  Worthington, 
Thl  Wadsworth  Boys, 
Gr^'iCe  Avery's  Influence,  - 
GiJMPSES  Through, 
Ralph's  Possf.ssion,      -        -        - 
Luck  of  Alden  Farm, 
Chronicles  of  Sunset  Mountain, 
The  Marble  Preacher,    "    - 
Golden  Lines,       -        -        -        - 

Sold  by  Booksellers  generally,  and  sent  by  Mail^ 

on  receipt  of  trice. 


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BOSTON: 
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t:j?s. 


